Feb 03

Getaway introduced in New York, but thoughts drift to warm Miami – Travel Weekly

ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN GETAWAY — The frigid January weather in New York has kept most industry guests and media away from the Norwegian Getaway’s distinctive outdoor attractions during the ship’s inaugural sailing.

Few took advantage of the open-air dining on Waterfront, let alone the ropes course, water park with slides or other top-decks attractions.

The ship is a structural clone of its older sister, the Breakaway, which debuted last year, and having the passengers stay largely indoors kept them focused on the shifting of emphasis from themes of New York, where Breakaway homeports, to Miami, where the Getaway will be based.

“I like the subtle touches of Miami,” said Karen Giantomasi, client services supervisor for the online travel agency Cruise Direct International Voyager. “The mojitos in place of Champagne, Cuban food at the buffet.”

But many travel counselors said the shift in geographic emphasis inside really just supports the biggest change of all — that this ship will soon have a southern point of departure.

Although Wendi Randal of Liberty Travel in Pittsburgh doesn’t have clients in either homeport, the cold weather emphasized to her the importance of having a warm gateway. “You want [clients] to be able to try everything that’s outside, and you don’t want the weather to hinder that.”

One discerning couple didn’t mind at all that, other than the tweaking of restaurant and bar themes, the interiors were virtually identical. Sitting quietly and unnoticed at a side table at Sugarcane Mojito Bar off the atrium was Craig Cannonier, premier of Bermuda, and his wife Antoinette.

He had been aboard during the inauguration of the Breakaway (which sails to Bermuda), and on this sailing was again in a suite in the Haven, the private area atop the ship which caters to upscale travelers.

“We’ve broken away, we’ve gotten away, next we’ll stay away — stay away from land,” he said. (He said he wasn’t worried about competition for Bermuda from cruising, and believes that port visits ultimately lead to subsequent longer land stays.)

As for the lack of differences — he did notice that “here, you have a mermaid painted on the outside” — he was sanguine. “They took a model that worked and built another. Why do something else? It’s not the same itinerary, so why not build a replica that works and take it to another destination?”

“We’ll bring our family aboard [the Breakaway] on our next vacation, down to our 3-year-old grandchild,” added Antoinette. “They do a good job.”

via Getaway introduced in New York, but thoughts drift to warm Miami – Travel Weekly.

Feb 03

Expedia Wave Season Report Reveals Attitudes toward Cruise Food, Destinations and Onboard Safety – MarketWatch

BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Expedia.com ®, the world’s leading online travel site, today released the Expedia® Wave Report, an annual analysis of cruising trends. 6,867 respondents – Expedia travelers who have cruised at least once – revealed their favored ports of call, most desirable destinations, attitudes towards cruise safety and other preferences.

Of the Expedia cruisers who participated in the study, cruising continues to be the vacation style of choice. Fifty-five percent of respondents expect to take a cruise within 2014. Fifty-three percent of Wave Report respondents consider cruises to be superior vacations to any other type of vacation, while more than three-fourths of respondents feel cruises are either superior, or at least equal to, other forms of travel.

“Cruisers are repeat customers. In fact, the average cruise traveler in our study has taken at least four cruises,” said Koreen McNutt, Senior Director of Expedia Cruise. “Whether it’s the food, the ports of call or the convenience of unpacking just once, cruising remains one of the most popular ways to travel among those who’ve tried it at least once.”

Other findings of the Expedia Wave Report include:

  • SAFETY AT SEA:  87 percent of Expedia Wave Report respondents consider cruising to be a perfectly safe travel activity with only five percent reporting serious concerns about onboard safety.

  • DECISION MAKING:  33 percent of respondents cite “ports of call” as their top consideration when booking a cruise. Price was the second consideration, at 28 percent, while “port of origin” and “cruise line” tied for third, at 13 percent.

  • CRUISE COMPANIONS:  Cruising is largely a family affair. Sixty percent of cruisers travel with their spouse/significant other, while 44 percent travel with immediate and extended family members. Two percent of respondents cruise solo.

  • BEST FEATURES:  Respondents cite the ability to “explore multiple destinations” (60 percent) and the “all-inclusive nature” as favorable features. When asked to rank on-board cruise criteria, 58 percent of respondents pointed to “food quality” as intrinsic to their satisfaction, followed by cabin cleanliness (36 percent) and quality of the excursions (34 percent).

The Expedia Wave Report also revealed 2014’s most-coveted destinations as the Eastern Mediterranean, featuring exotic ports along the Adriatic Sea including Croatia, Cypress, Greece, Israel, Eastern Italy and Turkey, followed by Alaska in the number two spot. The top cruise destinations that made Expedia cruisers wish lists for 2014 are:

  1. Eastern Mediterranean

  2. Alaska

  3. Western Mediterranean

  4. Australia/New Zealand

  5. Southern Caribbean and Hawaii (tie)

  6. Northern Europe/Baltics/Scandinavia/Russia

  7. Western Europe/British Isles

  8. South Pacific

  9. Eastern Caribbean

  10. Panama Canal

  11. Western Caribbean (Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, etc.)

  12. South America

  13. Asia

  14. Bahamas

The Expedia Wave Report was fielded in January 2014 and features responses from 6,867 travelers that have cruised at least once and used Expedia.com to shop for their cruise

Annual Expedia Wave Season Report Reveals Attitudes toward Cruise Food, Destinations and Onboard Safety – MarketWatch.

Jan 14

MEYER WERFT DELIVERS NORWEGIAN GETAWAY

Bremerhaven, Germany – January 10, 2014 – Today during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the 145,655 gross ton cruise ship Norwegian Getaway from MEYER WERFT after a building period of only 15 months. The ship, the second of two Breakaway Class ships, is being delivered just nine months after the launch of sister-ship Norwegian Breakaway. Following delivery today, the ship is sailing to Rotterdam for the start of inaugural festivities which will continue in Southampton before the ship departs for her transatlantic cruise to New York. The ship will be christened in Miami on February 7.

“The team at MEYER WERFT, along with our new build team, has done an amazing job on Norwegian Getaway and we are thrilled with how spectacular the ship looks,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Norwegian Breakaway revolutionized cruising with its Waterfront and strong connection to New York. Norwegian Getaway will do the same as Miami’s ultimate ship, offering the only way to cruise the Caribbean from Miami with a plethora of incredible features.”

“We are more than thrilled to deliver the second Breakaway class vessel to Norwegian Cruise Line ahead of her original schedule,” said Bernard Meyer, managing partner with MEYER WERFT. “Norwegian Getaway is the newest and most advanced cruise vessel on the seas and we are proud of the team that worked diligently to design and build her.”

The latest engine technology, the diesel-electric pod drive system, improved hydrodynamics as well as effective energy saving, heat recovery and ballast water treatment guarantee an ecological cruise experience at significantly reduced operating costs.

Main Particulars – Norwegian GETAWAY-

Dimension 146.600 BRZ
Length overall 325,70 m
Moulded breadth 39,7 m
Number of decks 18
Draught 8,30 m
Engine output 62.400 kW in total
Propulsion power 35.000 kW
Speed 21,5 kn
Number of passengers 4,028
Number of passenger cabins 2,014
Number of outside cabins (including suites) 1,506
Number of inside cabins 508
Crew ca. 1.640
Number of theatre seats 815
Number of dining options 27
Total weight of applied paint ca. 300 t
Total length of laid cables 2.154 km
Total length of laid pipes ca. 400 km
Flag Bahamas
Classification DNV

via Press Release | MEYER WERFT DELIVERS NORWEGIAN GETAWAY.

Jan 13

Focused on Designing WOW

Jan 07

Cruises get cool as young people take to the seas to get away from it all | Travel | The Observer

It might be hard to think of anything less conventionally “cool”, but according to Abta, the travel industry body, a record number of young people want to go on a cruise. The average age of British cruisers is 56 – the highest it has been for a decade – but Abta reports a surprising leap in the number of 16- to 24-year-olds who are considering cruising instead of larging it in Ibiza or Malia.

The trade body, which represents more than 5,000 travel agencies, says that one in five under-25s are considering a holiday on the high seas this year – nearly three times the number that went cruising last year.

Cruise ships, say the travel experts, have finally “shaken off their old, staid image” and now many are “like floating theme parks, perfect for party animals”. Many have ditched cabarets and black-tie dinners at the captain’s table in favour of all-night parties, rock climbing, assault courses and surfing lessons in on-board simulators.

via Cruises get cool as young people take to the seas to get away from it all | Travel | The Observer.

Jan 02

MSC CRUISES LAUNCHES A TWO-YEAR “RENAISSANCE PROGRAMME” FOR ITS LIRICA CLASS

20 December 2013 – MSC Cruises today announced a multi-million euro programme that will involve all four of its Lirica class ships over the next two years.

The almost €200 million “renaissance programme” has been commissioned from FINCANTIERI in Italy, one of the world’s leading shipbuilding companies, and will be complete by 2015. The “renaissance” of MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera will add exciting new entertainment options, technological advancements, extended shops and up to nearly 200 new cabins per ship.

The ships will boast a completely new spray park, with an exhilarating pathway of water features and water cannons. The impressive onboard boutiques will be enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands, such as Dior, Lancôme and Dolce & Gabbana.

During a press conference organised in Rome, MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer, Gianni Onorato, commented: “When our four Lirica class ships return to the seas after a total of 38 weeks in dry dock, they will be entirely new ships with additional amenities and comfort for our travellers, allowing them to reach sophisticated and refined destinations around the world. The extensive “renaissance programme” represents a huge investment, and reaffirms, once again, our company’s dedication to high standards, cutting-edge technology and continuous product innovation. MSC Cruises’ ships are works of art in their own right and the ‘renaissance programme’ is going to make our fleet – already renowned for its unrivalled style and elegance – even more competitive”.

Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of FINCANTIERI, commented: “The winning of this contract is a source of great satisfaction to us in many respects. Above all, because it involves us with an important partner like MSC Cruises in a programme that is highly ambitious both technically and operationally. It also allows us to strengthen our position in the refitting and refurbishment segment, considered among those in continuous expansion. In fact, in the increasingly competitive international scenario, a complex order like this confirms our position as one of the leading players in this sector”.

The line of credit is entirely guaranteed by SACE, Italy’s export credit agency and insurance and financial group. “We are pleased to once again confirm our commitment alongside Fincantieri. This is a further recognition of the high quality of our shipbuilding industry and a sign of renewed optimism for the future of such an important industrial sector” said Alessandro Castellano, Chief Executive Officer of SACE. We are very proud to contribute to the financing of the plan announced by MSC Cruises, aware that the real winners will be the thousands of workers at Fincantieri and its SME supplier base.”

Schedule and key figures

The MSC Lirica renaissance programme will follow the dry dock schedule below:

  • MSC Armonia (2004): 31 August to 17 November 2014
  • MSC Sinfonia (2005): 12 January to 16 March 2015
  • MSC Opera (2004): 2 May to 4 July 2015
  • MSC Lirica (2003): 31 August to 9 November 2015

 

The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travellers. After the “renaissance programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travellers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).

via Press Area.

Dec 30

Steiner, Celebrity won’t renew spa contract in 2014 – Travel Weekly

Spa operator Steiner Leisure said this week that its agreement to operate the spas onboard Celebrity Cruises ships would not be renewed.

In a statement, the company said it had been advised by Celebrity that the line would not renew the agreement, which expires Dec. 31.

“The company is negotiating a transition plan as to the turnover of the ships to the new vendor,” Steiner said.

In the statement, Steiner CEO Leonard Fluxman said the company was “disappointed with Celebrity’s decision, particularly in view of our revenues being at historical highs on Celebrity’s ships. We believe that the terms we proposed for renewal contained compelling economics, and it also contained a unique brand at sea. It is our understanding that Celebrity’s decision was made purely from a marketing perspective.”

“Steiner has been an excellent partner over the years,” Celebrity said in an email. “We thank them for helping us deliver high quality spa experiences to our valued guests.”

Steiner, Celebrity won’t renew spa contract in 2014 – Travel Weekly.

Dec 30

Cruise Ship Drink Packages: Are They Worth It? | Fodor’s

Whether you’re new to cruising or readying to book a repeat voyage, you’re probably contemplating whether or not to tack on an onboard beverage package. Most cruise lines—at least those that aren’t all-inclusive—offer prepaid add-on drink packages. There are all-alcohol or wine-only packages, soda options, and even alternatives for unlimited specialty coffees.

The benefits of drink packages can be twofold: a discount on your overall bar bill, as well as the convenience of not signing a check for every soda or glass of wine ordered. As an added bonus, the unlimited nature of the arrangement may encourage your palate to explore new flavors—after all, sampling new drinks is all the more feasible when you’re not worrying that your money will go to waste if you don’t like it.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF A BEVERAGE PACKAGE IS RIGHT FOR YOU

These unlimited drink packages can be a terrific value—under certain circumstances. However, many cruise lines mandate that if one person in your stateroom buys a beverage package, everyone in the stateroom has to buy one. If a couple with similar drinking habits is sharing a cabin, this may be fine, but the calculation is murkier for families or a couple with one alcohol drinker and one teetotaler.

Know what you’re getting in the drink package. Most soda packages are valid only for fountain soda. If you prefer canned tonic, you should stick to paying à la carte prices for your drinks.

The itinerary will also play a major part in your decision-making. If you’re spending several days at sea, you may get more value out of a drink package than if you are out and about in port all day.

Cruise Ship Drink Packages: Are They Worth It? | Fodor’s.

Dec 30

Port Everglades saw passenger numbers decrease in 2013 – Business – MiamiHerald.com

Cruise passenger numbers dropped at Port Everglades in fiscal 2013, but the Fort Lauderdale port expects more business in the upcoming year.

The port processed just over 3.5 million multi-day passengers in the year that ended Sept. 30, down from nearly 3.7 million the year before. The number of cruise ship calls dropped from 838 to 774 between 2012 and 2013.

Traffic is expected to pick up in fiscal 2014. The budget forecast, which a spokeswoman said was conservative, calls for 846 cruise ship calls and 3.77 million multi-day passengers. Spokeswoman Ellen Kennedy said the port actually anticipates 4 million passengers.

PortMiami released its 2013 passenger totals earlier this month; the “cruise capital of the world” had just over 4 million people travel through its terminals during the fiscal year.

 


Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/27/3839867/port-everglades-saw-passenger.html#storylink=cpy

via Port Everglades saw passenger numbers decrease in 2013 – Business – MiamiHerald.com.

Dec 30

MSC Divina makes changes for the American market | Dallas Morning News

MIAMI — The MSC Divina is a brassy, voluptuous ship. It has thousands of Swarovski crystals embedded in glass stairways, an infinity pool, Italian-style fountains and sculptures, tiny jewel-like lights in the ceilings and even a sexy red suite designed by Sophia Loren.

Divina’s heritage is mixed, but the effect is all Italian. And who doesn’t love Italy?

MSC Cruises, which has been running seasonal Caribbean cruises out of South Florida for a decade, last month moved the Divina to the port of Miami, from where it’ll embark on Caribbean cruises year-round. It’s the first time MSC Cruises has stationed a ship permanently in North America.

Launched in Europe in spring 2012, the MSC Divina has 1,751 staterooms that hold 3,502 guests at double occupancy. It’s very close in size to the Royal Princess, slightly larger than the Carnival Breeze.

Its owners are hoping they found the right balance of Mediterranean ambience and North American taste.

via MSC Divina makes changes for the American market | Dallas Morning News.