Record passenger numbers for DFDS Seaways

DFDS Seaways, the award-winning ferry operator, saw a record number of passenger crossings over the summer of 2013 on its Newcastle to Amsterdam route.

Despite the ongoing challenging market conditions, over 65,000 passengers sailed in August alone, revealing an increase of almost 4,000 passengers compared to last year.

DFDS Seaways is the only ferry operator to sail between Newcastle and Amsterdam and offers two daily sailings.

During August this year, 65,302 passengers sailed with DFDS Seaways between Newcastle and Amsterdam, compared to 61,551 in August 2012.

Commenting on the record figures, Max Foster, passenger director at DFDS Seaways said:

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Crystal Cruises launches custom celebration services

An elegant wedding in the hills of Tuscany.  A birthday blowout on a beach in Bali.  A retirement roast at one of Cape Town’s top wineries.  A renewal of vows “on top of the world” at sea.  With Crystal Cruises’ new Crystal Celebrations soiree service, almost anything is possible just about anywhere Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity sail.  Already known for an uber-personalised approach to unforgettable travel experiences, Crystal has teamed with premier global event company Imagine VIP to create a first-of-its-kind bespoke event-planning service

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Flotilla Radisson Royal Moscow celebrates World Travel Awards win

Flotilla Radisson Royal Moscow has claimed the title of Europe’s Leading River Cruise Company at the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony.

The event was hosted by Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa in Antalya, Turkey, and saw hundreds of industry leaders gather to celebrate the achievements of the select few winners.

World Travel Awards celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, with the brand having established itself as the definitive mark of excellence in the tourism industry.

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Royal Caribbean announces Ocean Voyages

There is no better way to span two continents in one holiday than onboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise. The cruise line known for the industry’s most innovative cruise ships announced Ocean Voyages, a collection of special sailings that offer unique onboard programming, new shore excursion packages, and unbeatable value on 2014 sailings between Europe and the Americas.

Holidaymakers can choose among 11 Royal Caribbean International ships that call at more than 35 exciting destinations on Ocean Voyages, which also include late 2014 sailings onboard the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship Oasis of the Seas, and the next-generation Quantum of the Seas, introducing its variety of new at sea firsts to the industry. For more information about Royal Caribbean International’s Ocean Voyages, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/OceanVoyages.

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Norwegian Cruise Line expands Cruisetours

i and Europe Cruisetours, available now for sailings beginning January 2014. These new offerings further expand the line’s Cruisetours and provide guests even more ways to enhance their cruise experience with a land vacation in Hawai

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Short getaway cruises from Princess Cruises begin sailing from Los Angeles

Today Golden Princess sets sail from Los Angeles on the first of a new series of Princess Cruises Getaway voyages. Known for offering longer itineraries, the company has debuted these new cruises along the West Coast offering a brand new way for passengers to enjoy a quick break in a sea-going environment of comfort and style.

Passengers can choose from three- and four-day sailings, perfect for sampling the line’s onboard experience, as well as visiting a variety of Southern California destinations. Departing roundtrip from Los Angeles (San Pedro) aboard Golden Princess and Sapphire Princess, the Princess Getaway sailings take place throughout the fall and into the spring 2014 season.

“Our new Getaway cruises are a great new option for anyone looking for a quick way to escape from the daily grind,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Passengers can sample the Princess experience of fine international dining and world-class entertainment aboard our comfortably elegant ships. And, these cruises are perfect for celebrations such as a birthday, anniversary, reunion or girlfriends getaway.”

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Norwegian Getaway to feature sweet treats of Carlos Bake shop

will open his second Carlo’s Bake Shop at sea on the new Norwegian Getaway, coming to Miami in February.

Valastro first partnered with Norwegian Cruise Line when he opened Carlo’s Bake Shop on Norwegian Breakaway, which began sailing from New York City in May 2013. Norwegian Getaway will be the second ship in the fleet to feature Carlo’s Bake Shop.

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Norwegian debuts ice cream bar concept on Norwegian Breakaway

concept debuted on board the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Breakaway and will also be available on Norwegian Getaway upon her arrival to Miami in February 2014.

Guests sailing on board Norwegian Breakaway’s seven-day Bermuda or Bahamas and Florida cruises from New York City or on Norwegian Getaway’s seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings from Miami, can indulge in a variety of specialty sundaes, floats, shakes and other ice cream treats during their cruise.

Located inside O’Sheehan’s, the ships’ 24-hour neighborhood bars, Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway’s Ice Cream Bars serve up the most delectable classic ice cream parlor creations, from floats, milkshakes and malted shakes, to egg creams and a variety of spectacular ice cream sundaes.
The signature item on the Ice Cream Bar menu is the enormously delicious Breakaway or Getaway Sundae. This massive ice cream creation serves from three to four guests, includes a whopping nine scoops of ice cream in up to three different flavors and is topped with

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Royal Caribbean International begins work on new Oasis-class ship

Steel cutting in France for Royal Caribbean's Oasis 3 cruise ship

Royal Caribbean International cut the first piece of steel today for its third Oasis-class ship, marking the first construction milestone for a vessel that, at approximately 227,700 GRT, will be the world’s largest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman Richard Fain and president Adam Goldstein, together with Laurent Castaing, chief executive officer of builder STX France, attended the event at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, where the ship will be built.

The cruise line’s third Oasis-class ship is expected to be delivered in mid-2016.

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Concordia captain blames helmsman

Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia, which sank off Italy in 2012, has blamed his Indonesian helmsman for the accident.

Schettino claims the helmsman failed to obey orders to slow down and steered the ship onto rocks.

The captain is presently fighting charges of causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship.

Thirty-two people died when the cruise ship capsized in January 2012.

Helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin has already been convicted of manslaughter in a separate trial.

He was one of five Costa employees who were granted plea bargains in return for mild sentences in a separate proceeding.

He was given a sentence of one year and eight months.

Investigators have said previously language problems between the captain and the helmsman might have played a role in crash.

Schettino claimed if the helmsman had quickly executed the correct manoeuvre, the Concordia would have steered away from the jagged reef that sliced a hole in its side.

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Norwegian Cruise Line invites Latitudes members to offer advice for new cruisers

After experiencing their first cruise more than ten years ago, Paul and Pamela Butler have never looked back. Longstanding members of Latitudes Rewards, Norwegian Cruise Line’s customer loyalty programme, they have cruised over 27 times with Norwegian.

Encouraged by a friend, they started cruising by testing the waters on board Norwegian Sun in 2001, and booked their next cruise before they had departed the ship. Recognising that it can be difficult to know where to start for new cruisers, Paul and Pamela Butler have offered their top tips for anyone looking for some insider knowledge.

Paul Butler said,

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Viking Cruises orders more river ships for 2014

Amid record levels of consumer interest in river cruising, Viking Cruises has announced it has increased its order for additional Viking Longships, bringing the total number of new ships launching in 2014 from 12 to 14 vessels.

The increased order reflects the popularity of river cruising as the fastest growing-segment of the travel industry and the leadership position of Viking, the world’s leading river cruise line.

By the end of 2014, Viking will have introduced a total of 30 new ships in a three-year period- the most rapid fleet expansion program the cruise industry has ever seen.

The 14 new ships in 2014 will sail Viking’s most popular itineraries in Europe.

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Costa Cruises’ future flagship passes construction milestone

Search KeywordsSearchHomeNewsAirlineHotelCruiseEventsTechnologyTourismOrganisations & OperatorsSpaCar RentalRailFocusEventsVideosPhotosPublicationsHome »Travel News »Cruise News »Costa Cruises’ future flagship passes construction milestone 23 2 Share9th Sep 2013

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Fred Olsen commences new partnership with Eavesway Travel

With effect from April 2014, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be working with Wigan-based Eavesway Travel Ltd., which has been established for over 70 years, as its preferred supplier of coach services for cruise guests. Route details and fares will be featured in Fred. Olsen’s

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Azamara Club Cruises reveals 2014 programme highlights in latest brochure

Azamara Club Cruises, has revealed a series of special event cruises allowing guests to attend the Monaco Grand Prix, celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong or pay homage to the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. The new event cruises are part of the 2014 deployment programme which features a record 45 maiden ports of call.

Well-known for focusing on special events and occasions across the globe, each of the 72 itineraries featured in the cruise line’s 2014 brochure include late night departures or overnight stays in port. This allows agents to appeal to travellers who want to immerse themselves in the culture of each destination.

The cruise line’s boutique ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, will also call at a record number of new ports including Osaka (Kyoto, Japan), Kuda Bandos Island (The Maldives), Manzanillo (Mexico) and San Juan Del Sur (Nicaragua), many of which are hard to reach for larger ships.

Key special event cruises featured in the new 2014 programme include:

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Royal Caribbean launches new Penguin Ahoy! app

Royal Caribbean International has launched a new app for consumer download called Penguin Ahoy! Available for free in the Apple App store, Penguin Ahoy! can be played on iPad’s and will shortly be available for iPhone’s.

The concept of the game is that a cheeky little Penguin has snuck onboard a Royal Caribbean ship with the goal being to make sure he does not get caught.

The user is encouraged to avoid sprinklers, dodge basketballs, and slide under inflatables to keep the penguin running for as long as possible without being caught by the crew. Players of the game and past guests will notice many familiar features from Royal Caribbean’s ships including the FlowRider surf simulator, Rock Wall, H2O zone, ice skating rinks, mini golf courses, sports courts and more.

Easy to play with simple touch and swipe controls, users can also invite and compete with their friends to see who can collect the most coins, cupcakes, special powers and gain extra lives. How far can you run? Are you the best? Download Royal Caribbean’s new app and find out.
 
The promotional trailer can be viewed at http://youtu.be/sP3fyg00jSQ

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P&O Cruises names team for new ship

Captain Pembridge will take control of the vessel

P&O Cruises has announced its senior management team for its new 141,000-tonne cruise ship.

Captains Paul Brown and David Pembridge will alternately lead the shipboard team, supported by deputy captains Martin Allen and Hamish Sunter and executive pursers Darljit Sharma and Keith de la Mare.

The team will take the new build from Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste to its launch in spring 2015.

Captain Brown will be joining the head office in Southampton early in 2014 as the project starts to gain momentum, with the rest of the team joining at different times prior to launch.

Paul Brown joined the company in 1996 and was first promoted to captain in June 2007 on board Aurora.

He then went on to be master on board Artemis, Oriana, Ventura and Azura.

David Pembridge joined the company in 1976 and was first promoted to captain in October 2002 on board Pacific Princess.

He then went on to be master on board Royal Princess, Sun Princess, Artemis, Oceana, Ocean Village 2, Oriana and Aurora.

The largest ship in P&O Cruises fleet, and the largest ever built specifically for British cruisers, it will offer a stylish and innovative new design, with an unprecedented number of passenger facilities together with many iconic signatures of the P&O Cruises brand. 

In delivering the ultimate P&O Cruises experience, the ship will be designed to both attract many thousands of newcomers and resonate with existing passengers, by delivering the sense of

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Norwegian asks public to name new ships

Norwegians Name Their Ships’ contest asking fans in five countries to help select the names for the line’s two new Breakaway Plus class ships.

From now until September 24th 2013, Norwegian’s Facebook fans in the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom have the opportunity to vote for their two favourite potential ship names from a list of the line’s top ten name prospects.

Those who vote will be entered to win a trip to the first ship’s inaugural festivities.

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Costa Concordia re-floated off Tuscany

Italian engineers have successfully re-floated the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the Tuscan coast in 2012.

Following a delay for poor weather, the ship was detached from rocks and moved on to a platform constructed on the sea bed.

Thirty-two people died when the cruise ship ran aground off the Tuscan coast.

Two bodies are yet to be recovered, with hopes they may be discovered during the latest phase of the operation to remove the ship.

The Italian Civil Protection Authority said only after the 114,000 tonne vessel - which capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012 - is back up on her keel will it be possible to inspect it fully and begin to plan how to repair and re-float it.

The ship will eventually be towed away to be destroyed.

Five people have already been convicted of manslaughter over the disaster, and the ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is currently on trial accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship.

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CRUISE INDUSTRY TO LEAD EVENT IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Washington, DC

To mark the National Day of Service, nearly 100 employees from the cruise industry will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys to build a house for a veteran in the Southern California area tomorrow in recognition of the National Day of Service.

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CRUISE INDUSTRY PARTNERS WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO GIVE BACK ON NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

Cruise Industry Employees Help Build Home for Los Angeles Area Veteran

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Washington, DC

To mark the National Day of Service, nearly 100 employees from the cruise industry volunteered today with Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys (SF/SCV) to build a house for a veteran in the Southern California area.

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CLIA CRUISE LINES CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING WITH NEW EXPERIENCES AND HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Laboring over a hot turkey and a cold cranberry compote is so yesterday.  More and more, couples, families and friends are choosing to combine the Thanksgiving holiday with a vacation and leave the cooking to someone else.  Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member lines are giving

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Norwegians go wild in Alaska

’ Freestyle Cruising brochure in the UK Market. Available to order at www.trade-gate.co.uk, the brochure highlights the line’s exciting cruises and fly-cruise packages as well as CruiseTour land programmes guests can add to their Norwegian cruise booking in Alaska.

The freedom and flexibility of sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line offers an experience like no other. Throughout the 2014 season Norwegian Cruise Line will have one of the youngest fleets sailing in the region, offering a choice of three ships

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Royal Caribbean chooses Oceans TV for Chinese movies

Oceans TV, a leading provider of in-cabin TV entertainment to cruise lines, has announced that it is supplying Royal Caribbean International with a Chinese movie package for their Voyager of the Seas cruise ship. Building on its success and reputation providing television content, this is the first time Oceans TV has licensed movies to the cruise line industry.

Whilst sailing in Asian waters, passengers onboard Voyager’s 1,557 staterooms are able to enjoy the highest grossing domestic Chinese movie of all time, ‘Lost in Thailand’, a light-hearted comedy which took over USD$200m at the box office. Joining this movie at the top of the box office rankings is the fantasy action film, ‘Painted Skin: The Resurrection’. Taking more than $115m it recants the tale of an ancient fox’s spirit and its quest to become human. For passengers looking for more action, ‘Tai Chi Zero’ is a martial arts movie directed and starring Stephen Fung, who has been previously awarded ‘Upcoming Actor of the Year’ by the Hong Kong Media. Continuing his success, the film grossed $24m. All these titles are screened in Mandarin.

As well as movies, Oceans TV supplies cruise lines with satellite TV channels, live TV events, international movies, promotional videos, safety films and portable entertainment systems such as the iPad.

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Norwegian Cruise Line takes top title at World Travel Awards

Norwegian Cruise Line has been named Europe’s Leading Cruise Line for the sixth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards.

The annual awards, held in Antalya, Turkey this year, and voted by travel agents and consumers worldwide, recognise travel companies for delivering an outstanding customer experience.

Norwegian, which has been honoured with the accolade since 2008, has for the second consecutive year deployed four Freestyle Cruising vessels in Europe this summer, offering an array of sailings ranging from four to fourteen nights.

The company will also deploy four ships in Europe next summer.

Francesco Paradisi, Norwegian Cruise Line senior manager business development, accepted the award during the 20th annual gala ceremony held in Antalya, on August 31st, 2013.

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Costa Cruises captain awarded a high civil decoration for rescuing two fishermen

special civil merit’ to Costa Voyager Captain, Giovanni Cosini, for rescuing two young Albanian fishermen who had been drifting off the coast of Durres for two days.

The medal is the highest civil decoration in Albania and was presented at the Presidential Palace of Tirana during a ceremony which was also attended by the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Massimo Gaiani.

The two young fishermen were rescued on 30 March 2013 at 7am. While Costa Voyager was heading to Durres for its first call in the Albanian city, the crew on the ship’s bridge spotted the small fishing boat that had lost power and was drifting about 15 miles off the Albanian coast.

The two young men on the boat, reportedly in very poor condition, were rescued and assisted by the Costa Voyager crew. The ship’s captain notified the Albanian Coast Guard which confirmed that the two fishermen were missing and that they had been looking for them for two days. After the rescue, Costa Voyager called in the port of Durres where the fishermen disembarked and were reunited with their families.

Costa Voyager had been on a 10-day cruise, dedicated exclusively to the French market, having departed from Marseilles on 27 March with calls to Corigliano Calabro, Durres, Korcula (Croatia), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Zara (Croatia) and Messina.

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