Pullmantur to Base Monarch of the Seas in Southern Caribbean.
Pullmantur will be taking over the Monarch of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International in 2013, and with the ship comes a stronger Latin America strategy, according to company executives.
The Monarch will join Pullmantur's Zenith, Empress and her sister, the Sovereign.
The 2,744-passenger, 1991-built Monarch of the Seas will not follow the rest of the Pullmantur fleet from Brazil to Europe, but instead be deployed in the Southern Caribbean year-round, on eight-night itineraries, poised to grab customers and revenue from an emerging Latin American market.
This year, the Ocean Dream left the fleet, for a new home with Peace Boat, while sister-company CDF took over the Horizon, leaving Pullmantur with three ships, as opposed to having to fill five in a difficult Spanish market.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Removal Plan for Concordia Wreck
With the Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner Franco Gabrielli in attendance, Costa Crociere and Italo-American consortium Titan-Micoperi, the winner of the tender tasked with performing the work, today presented their plan to remove the wreck of the Costa Concordia.
The work, following the decisional Services Conference convened by the Commissioner on May 15th during which the authorities have provided the necessary permits, will begin in a few days’ time and last about 12 months.
Titan Salvage is an American-owned specialist marine salvage and wreck removal company, part of the Crowley Group, and is a world leader in its field. Micoperi is a well-known Italian marine contractor with a long history as a specialist in underwater construction and engineering.
The plan to re-float the hull in one piece gives top priority to minimising environmental impact, to protecting Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and to maximum safety of the work.
Environmental protection will have top priority throughout this monumental salvage operation, the likes of which have never been attempted before anywhere in the world. Once removal is complete, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted.
The plan also includes measures to safeguard Isola del Giglio’s tourism industry and wider economy. Salvage workers’ presence will not have any significant impact on the availability of hotel accommodation for the summer season. The operating base will be located away from the island, on the mainland near Piombino, where equipment and materials will be stored, thereby avoiding any impact on the island’s port activities.
Operations will be divided into four basic stages:
● after stabilising the ship, an subsea platform will be built and caissons that can be filled with water will be fixed to the side of the ship that is out of the water;
● two cranes fixed to the platform will pull the ship upright, helped by the caissons which will be filled with water;
● when the ship is upright, caissons will also be fixed to the other side of the hull;
● the caissons on both sides will then be emptied, after treating and purifying the water to protect the marine environment, and filled with air.
Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Italian Authorities.
The plan was selected by an evaluation team with specialist representatives from Costa Crociere, Carnival Corporation & plc, London Offshore Consultants and Standard P&I Club, with the collaboration of RINA and Fincantieri, because it best fulfills the main objectives of the operation: removal of the wreck in one piece, minimal risk, minimal environmental impact, protection of Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and maximum safety of the work.
“Right from the early stages of the accident, Costa Crociere has been fully committed in terms of its resources, professional expertise and organisation to minimising the impact of the shipwreck on the environment and on Isola del Giglio in particular," said Gianni Onorato, Costa Crociere S.p.A. president.
“As was the case for the fuel removal operation, we have always worked to find the best possible and safest solution to protect the island, its marine environment and its tourism industry. We are now launching a salvage operation with characteristics and technical complexities that have never been faced before. There will inevitably be some unknowns in a project of this scope, but we are sure we have made the right decision and will continue to work to our best ability and on schedule”.
“We are very pleased to have been chosen to perform this incredible operation to remove the wreck of Costa Concordia. Our quality engineering and the experience we have gained in this area allowed us to present a project that met expectations," said Richard Habib, president of Titan Salvage. "From now on we will work with the aim of preserving the environment and the natural habitat”.
“We were confident from the outset that the professionalism of our company and our proven experience in underwater rescue and recovery operations could be of service to this salvage operation," said Silvio Bartolotti, general manager of Micoperi. "Being chosen is also powerful demonstration of the quality and capabilities of Italian companies to manage such delicate and unprecedented projects”.
The work, following the decisional Services Conference convened by the Commissioner on May 15th during which the authorities have provided the necessary permits, will begin in a few days’ time and last about 12 months.
Titan Salvage is an American-owned specialist marine salvage and wreck removal company, part of the Crowley Group, and is a world leader in its field. Micoperi is a well-known Italian marine contractor with a long history as a specialist in underwater construction and engineering.
The plan to re-float the hull in one piece gives top priority to minimising environmental impact, to protecting Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and to maximum safety of the work.
Environmental protection will have top priority throughout this monumental salvage operation, the likes of which have never been attempted before anywhere in the world. Once removal is complete, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted.
The plan also includes measures to safeguard Isola del Giglio’s tourism industry and wider economy. Salvage workers’ presence will not have any significant impact on the availability of hotel accommodation for the summer season. The operating base will be located away from the island, on the mainland near Piombino, where equipment and materials will be stored, thereby avoiding any impact on the island’s port activities.
Operations will be divided into four basic stages:
● after stabilising the ship, an subsea platform will be built and caissons that can be filled with water will be fixed to the side of the ship that is out of the water;
● two cranes fixed to the platform will pull the ship upright, helped by the caissons which will be filled with water;
● when the ship is upright, caissons will also be fixed to the other side of the hull;
● the caissons on both sides will then be emptied, after treating and purifying the water to protect the marine environment, and filled with air.
Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Italian Authorities.
The plan was selected by an evaluation team with specialist representatives from Costa Crociere, Carnival Corporation & plc, London Offshore Consultants and Standard P&I Club, with the collaboration of RINA and Fincantieri, because it best fulfills the main objectives of the operation: removal of the wreck in one piece, minimal risk, minimal environmental impact, protection of Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and maximum safety of the work.
“Right from the early stages of the accident, Costa Crociere has been fully committed in terms of its resources, professional expertise and organisation to minimising the impact of the shipwreck on the environment and on Isola del Giglio in particular," said Gianni Onorato, Costa Crociere S.p.A. president.
“As was the case for the fuel removal operation, we have always worked to find the best possible and safest solution to protect the island, its marine environment and its tourism industry. We are now launching a salvage operation with characteristics and technical complexities that have never been faced before. There will inevitably be some unknowns in a project of this scope, but we are sure we have made the right decision and will continue to work to our best ability and on schedule”.
“We are very pleased to have been chosen to perform this incredible operation to remove the wreck of Costa Concordia. Our quality engineering and the experience we have gained in this area allowed us to present a project that met expectations," said Richard Habib, president of Titan Salvage. "From now on we will work with the aim of preserving the environment and the natural habitat”.
“We were confident from the outset that the professionalism of our company and our proven experience in underwater rescue and recovery operations could be of service to this salvage operation," said Silvio Bartolotti, general manager of Micoperi. "Being chosen is also powerful demonstration of the quality and capabilities of Italian companies to manage such delicate and unprecedented projects”.
Friday, 18 May 2012
Costa Victoria Maiden Voyage from Shanghai
Costa Cruises held a launch ceremony yesterday May 17, 2012 for the long-awaited Costa Victoria at Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal.
The event was hosted by Shanghai Baoshan People’s Government, Sinotrans & CSC Shanghai Changjiang Shipping Corporation, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Development Co., Ltd and Costa Crociere S.p.A. Ms. Zhao Wen, Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Mr. Xue Chao, Deputy Secretary General of Shanghai Municipal Government and many members of Shanghai People’s Government and Baoshan District People’s Government were in attendance.
Renowned fashion designer, Mary Ma, considered to be China’s first international supermodel and famed for promoting Chinese fashion on the global stage, was onsite as the ship’s Godmother; an apt choice for what is Asia’s first fashion cruise.
Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal will be the home port for Costa Victoria, which will provide 33 itineraries a year, making Costa Cruises the biggest international operator at the terminal.
“We are thrilled to see Costa Victoria launch from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal” said Mr. Pier Luigi Foschi, the Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A. “She embodies our commitment to the China and Asian market. We were the first international cruise company authorized to operate in the China market and so it’s with great pride that I can attend today to see one of our finest cruise ships leave from this remarkable port in this spectacular city. Costa Cruises has long held a special relationship with this region and we’re pleased to confirm that next year we’ll be increasing our investments here still further.”
Costa Victoria will have a unique to-the-region onboard designer boutique concept, selling top brands at duty-free prices. The cruise will set sail on 18 May, the day after the event, when its passengers will be able to sample its varied onboard delights. There’s a large array of high-end fashion stores plus a fashion show modeling onboard wares. The boutique concept will be developed from its maiden call so passengers in the future can fully enjoy this new take on a cruising holiday.
With the explicit support and encouragement from the Chinese government Costa Cruises has been running cruises from Shanghai since 2006. At the end of this year it’s estimated that Costa will have operated more than 300 cruises and holidayed over 300,000 people from China. 300,000 happy customers - last year 98% of passengers were satisfied with their cruise. The growth of the market means that the Asia Pacific region is one of the most important for Costa Cruises, particularly the China market. It has increased its investment locally as a result, the latest embodiment of which is Costa Victoria. This marries well with the local government’s plan to boost the shipping industry and tourism in the region.
“This latest launch of Costa Victoria’s maiden voyage in China unveils the journey of Wusongkou as the main port of Shanghai,” said Ms. Wang Hong, the Chief of Baoshan District. “It becomes the first theme event of the 2012 Wusongkou Cruise Tourism Culture Festival in Shanghai."
As is common for the launching of cruise ships, the event was marked by the ship’s Godmother, Mary Ma, who won international acclaim for her unique and luxurious collections, gave her blessings and launched Costa Victoria with Mr. Foschi and the representatives of Shanghai People’s Government and Baoshan District People’s Government. Ms. Ma, Designer and Founder of Beijing Maryma Haute Couture Ltd., is widely acknowledged as China’s first contemporary supermodel and now ranks as one of China’s top designers. She has been a standard bearer for Chinese fashion on the international stage for decades and as the heart and soul of China’s fashion world she personifies Costa Victoria’s fashion theme.
The Wusongkou Cruise Tourism Culture Festival was also launched at the event. Speeches by government officials and Mr. Foschi were followed by a video display recounting the 150-year history of Costa Crociere, its recent achievements and concluding with a clip on the joy of taking a cruise holiday.
Costa Victoria will stop at several destinations in Japan including the tropical paradise Hososhima/Miyazaki, Wakayama, which boasts the largest hot spring resort, in Japan’s second largest city, Osaka, and the popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area Yokohama and Tokyo, the capital city. In the South Korean part of the itinerary destinations include ‘island of the Gods’ Jeju, the picturesque harbor town of Yeosu and South Korea’s second largest city, Busan.
The first voyage is a five-night itinerary that departs from Shanghai to Jeju then Fukuoka then Hososhima/Miyazaki before returning to Shanghai.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
The event was hosted by Shanghai Baoshan People’s Government, Sinotrans & CSC Shanghai Changjiang Shipping Corporation, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Development Co., Ltd and Costa Crociere S.p.A. Ms. Zhao Wen, Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Mr. Xue Chao, Deputy Secretary General of Shanghai Municipal Government and many members of Shanghai People’s Government and Baoshan District People’s Government were in attendance.
Renowned fashion designer, Mary Ma, considered to be China’s first international supermodel and famed for promoting Chinese fashion on the global stage, was onsite as the ship’s Godmother; an apt choice for what is Asia’s first fashion cruise.
Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal will be the home port for Costa Victoria, which will provide 33 itineraries a year, making Costa Cruises the biggest international operator at the terminal.
“We are thrilled to see Costa Victoria launch from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal” said Mr. Pier Luigi Foschi, the Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A. “She embodies our commitment to the China and Asian market. We were the first international cruise company authorized to operate in the China market and so it’s with great pride that I can attend today to see one of our finest cruise ships leave from this remarkable port in this spectacular city. Costa Cruises has long held a special relationship with this region and we’re pleased to confirm that next year we’ll be increasing our investments here still further.”
Costa Victoria will have a unique to-the-region onboard designer boutique concept, selling top brands at duty-free prices. The cruise will set sail on 18 May, the day after the event, when its passengers will be able to sample its varied onboard delights. There’s a large array of high-end fashion stores plus a fashion show modeling onboard wares. The boutique concept will be developed from its maiden call so passengers in the future can fully enjoy this new take on a cruising holiday.
With the explicit support and encouragement from the Chinese government Costa Cruises has been running cruises from Shanghai since 2006. At the end of this year it’s estimated that Costa will have operated more than 300 cruises and holidayed over 300,000 people from China. 300,000 happy customers - last year 98% of passengers were satisfied with their cruise. The growth of the market means that the Asia Pacific region is one of the most important for Costa Cruises, particularly the China market. It has increased its investment locally as a result, the latest embodiment of which is Costa Victoria. This marries well with the local government’s plan to boost the shipping industry and tourism in the region.
“This latest launch of Costa Victoria’s maiden voyage in China unveils the journey of Wusongkou as the main port of Shanghai,” said Ms. Wang Hong, the Chief of Baoshan District. “It becomes the first theme event of the 2012 Wusongkou Cruise Tourism Culture Festival in Shanghai."
As is common for the launching of cruise ships, the event was marked by the ship’s Godmother, Mary Ma, who won international acclaim for her unique and luxurious collections, gave her blessings and launched Costa Victoria with Mr. Foschi and the representatives of Shanghai People’s Government and Baoshan District People’s Government. Ms. Ma, Designer and Founder of Beijing Maryma Haute Couture Ltd., is widely acknowledged as China’s first contemporary supermodel and now ranks as one of China’s top designers. She has been a standard bearer for Chinese fashion on the international stage for decades and as the heart and soul of China’s fashion world she personifies Costa Victoria’s fashion theme.
The Wusongkou Cruise Tourism Culture Festival was also launched at the event. Speeches by government officials and Mr. Foschi were followed by a video display recounting the 150-year history of Costa Crociere, its recent achievements and concluding with a clip on the joy of taking a cruise holiday.
Costa Victoria will stop at several destinations in Japan including the tropical paradise Hososhima/Miyazaki, Wakayama, which boasts the largest hot spring resort, in Japan’s second largest city, Osaka, and the popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area Yokohama and Tokyo, the capital city. In the South Korean part of the itinerary destinations include ‘island of the Gods’ Jeju, the picturesque harbor town of Yeosu and South Korea’s second largest city, Busan.
The first voyage is a five-night itinerary that departs from Shanghai to Jeju then Fukuoka then Hososhima/Miyazaki before returning to Shanghai.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Dover Cruise Port Welcomes Two Inaugural Visits
Dover Cruise Port welcomed inaugural visits from Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas and the Azamara Club cruise ships on May 11 and 12 respectively.
The Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, accommodating 2,500 passengers with all cabins allocated, arrived in Dover on its penultimate disembarkation call at Amsterdam the following day. All tours for this cruise took place in Kent and Sussex. Kate O’Hara, Head of Business Delivery at Dover Harbour Board, presented the Captain Henrik Sorensen with an inaugural plaque.
The following day saw the arrival of the Azamara Club, a 5-Star brand of Celebrity Cruises and part of the Royal Caribbean International group.
The ships in this group are smaller than many other cruise ships, measuring 180m in length offering room for just 710 passengers, and 390 crew. Their size gives them the advantage of being able to visit smaller harbours, giving experienced cruise guests an alternative cruise experience. Arriving on the seventh day of an 11 day cruise, the voyage, which started in France included visits to the UK, Eire, Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands, Belgium and Holland. Clare Newman, Manager of Business Delivery at the Port of Dover presented Captain Jason Ikiadis with a plaque to commemorate the inaugural call.
Clare Newman, Manager of Business Delivery, said: “we were delighted to welcome both ships on their inaugural visits to Dover. We have worked hard to develop the relationship with Royal Caribbean and are pleased with the increased number of calls that we have welcomed year on year.”
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
The Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, accommodating 2,500 passengers with all cabins allocated, arrived in Dover on its penultimate disembarkation call at Amsterdam the following day. All tours for this cruise took place in Kent and Sussex. Kate O’Hara, Head of Business Delivery at Dover Harbour Board, presented the Captain Henrik Sorensen with an inaugural plaque.
The following day saw the arrival of the Azamara Club, a 5-Star brand of Celebrity Cruises and part of the Royal Caribbean International group.
The ships in this group are smaller than many other cruise ships, measuring 180m in length offering room for just 710 passengers, and 390 crew. Their size gives them the advantage of being able to visit smaller harbours, giving experienced cruise guests an alternative cruise experience. Arriving on the seventh day of an 11 day cruise, the voyage, which started in France included visits to the UK, Eire, Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands, Belgium and Holland. Clare Newman, Manager of Business Delivery at the Port of Dover presented Captain Jason Ikiadis with a plaque to commemorate the inaugural call.
Clare Newman, Manager of Business Delivery, said: “we were delighted to welcome both ships on their inaugural visits to Dover. We have worked hard to develop the relationship with Royal Caribbean and are pleased with the increased number of calls that we have welcomed year on year.”
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Brilliance of the Seas for Tampa
The Tampa Port Authority welcomed today’s announcement by Royal Caribbean International of its plans to replace its current cruise ship serving Tampa, Jewel of the Seas, with Brilliance of the Seas beginning with the 2013-2014 season. Both belong to the Radiance Class of ships, with 2,112 passenger capacity.
In May 2013, before Brilliance of the Seas is deployed to Tampa, she will enter dry dock to undergo a major revitalization as part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage program, and re-emerge almost as if she were a new ship. This will involve introducing the highest guest-rated features from its award-winning Oasis Class of ships, to include a greater variety of new onboard dining and entertainment options, revitalized staterooms, and many other amenities including pervasive Wi-Fi, digital way-finding systems and an outdoor LED video wall.
Vacationers can choose four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries aboard Brilliance of the Seas, sailing round-trip from Tampa and calling at Cozumel, Mexico on the four-night, and George Town, Cayman Islands and Cozumel on the five-night cruises. Aboard select five-night sailings, guests call at Key West, Fla., instead of George Town. Vacationers also can select a 13-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, departing on Oct. 27 from Boston, Mass. to Tampa. These sailing will open for sale on Thursday, May 17.
“We look forward to welcoming Brilliance of the Seas to Tampa and believe the ship’s exciting new features will create a fresh buzz in Tampa’s robust cruise market and with the travel agent community,” Richard Wainio, port director and chief executive, said.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
In May 2013, before Brilliance of the Seas is deployed to Tampa, she will enter dry dock to undergo a major revitalization as part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage program, and re-emerge almost as if she were a new ship. This will involve introducing the highest guest-rated features from its award-winning Oasis Class of ships, to include a greater variety of new onboard dining and entertainment options, revitalized staterooms, and many other amenities including pervasive Wi-Fi, digital way-finding systems and an outdoor LED video wall.
Vacationers can choose four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries aboard Brilliance of the Seas, sailing round-trip from Tampa and calling at Cozumel, Mexico on the four-night, and George Town, Cayman Islands and Cozumel on the five-night cruises. Aboard select five-night sailings, guests call at Key West, Fla., instead of George Town. Vacationers also can select a 13-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, departing on Oct. 27 from Boston, Mass. to Tampa. These sailing will open for sale on Thursday, May 17.
“We look forward to welcoming Brilliance of the Seas to Tampa and believe the ship’s exciting new features will create a fresh buzz in Tampa’s robust cruise market and with the travel agent community,” Richard Wainio, port director and chief executive, said.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)