Swansea refit for Saga Pearl II confirmed

UK cruise line Saga has confirmed that its latest addition to its fleet, the former Club Cruise owned Astoria will undergo a five month, £20m refit, at Swansea Dry Dock in the UK, with the work being undertaken by the Harris Pye Group.  Following the refit the vessel will be renamed Saga Pearl II and enter service for Saga in March 2010, with her inaugural cruise to Norway from Southampton.

This is the first time in 10 years that significant refit work has been undertaken at Swansea Dry Dock.  The facility will now be reopened and renovated, providing some 300 jobs over the period of the refit.

Barry-based Harris Pye beat of strong competition from other UK repairers, as well as German yards to win two major contracts for work on Saga Pearl II.  As well as the addition of new balcony cabins, the existing show lounge, restaurants, spa and swimming pool will be upgraded. One of the best libraries afloat will be created and a new cinema installed. New galleys are also planned to support the gourmet dining experience in the vessel’s elegant dining rooms.

A sports deck will be created, including the addition of a short tennis court. On the technical side, the vessel will receive a new foul release coating system.

Harris Pye is being used for the main engineering work and Saga is planning to place a number of other major contracts with UK-based contractors. 

Commenting on the refit contract, Andrew Goodsell, Executive Chairman, Saga Group said: ‘The multi-million £ refit will ensure that Saga Pearl II is splendid throughout and with 446 passengers she will have an intimate atmosphere and the quality of service our passengers have come to expect. I am delighted that we are able to support a British yard and that in doing so we will help with the regeneration of the Swansea docks.’

 

The first contract won by Harris Pye for a cruise vessel is for the provision of the drydock and drydock services, which include the complete overhaul of the vessel’s four Wärtsilä-Sulzer 6L46 main engines, auxiliary engines, boilers HVAC systems, electrical and automation, as well as a large quantity of steel and pipework renewal, plus hull treatment and tank coatings and all related engineering work throughout the ship.

 

The second contract for Harris Pye involves Harris Pye’s Outfitting and BEK divisions, which will be fully equipping both the Veranda Restaurant and the Discovery Lounge and supply all necessary galley equipment for both.  They will also be used in the refurbishment of the crew’s cabins.

 

The Harris Pye Group is already familiar with working with Saga, undertaking both technical and hotel work onboard their Spirit of Adventure while she underwent a three month refit in Malta in 2008. The work package on this vessel included steel and pipe renewal, main engine overhaul, as well as refitting the galley areas, refrigeration areas and cabins.  The company has also recently been involved in the refits of two P&O Cruises’ vessels at Germany’s Lloyd Werft.  The £1m + jobs involved Artemis and Oceana.    

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P&O Cruises releases new magazine-style brochure for 2010

UK cruise line P&O Cruises has released a new magazine-style brochure, featuring destination articles as well as extensive product information, for 2010 which it hopes will command front position on the brochure racks in travel agencies this summer.

The 2010 first edition brochure includes the full first season of Azura, two round Britain cruises, free child places and eight new itineraries. 

P&O Cruises’ managing director Nigel Esdale said: ‘The new P&O cruises 2010 brochure has blurred the boundaries between brochure and magazine to give our passengers an inspirational insight into the ships and destinations included in a P&O Cruises holiday – which you could not find in a traditional style brochure.

‘The brochure will compliment our website and the Complete Cruise Solution website, which give passengers much more factual information about destinations and cruising with P&O Cruises. Combined, these make a comprehensive sales tools for agents.’

The new brochure features travel articles on destinations visited in the programme along with an insight into life onboard the ships in the fleet.

‘As market leaders were are offering the widest choice of departures from Southampton during the summer season, with seven ships sailing we have a cruise to suit everyone from first-timers to the more experienced cruiser. Passengers sailing from Southampton can start their holiday within 30 minutes of arrival at the terminal to stepping onboard the ship of their choice.’

Highlights of the programme include:

• Cruise holidays on Azura – the newest superliner addition to the fleet
• Two round Britain cruises
• Six new ports of call
• A 28-night Caribbean Christmas cruise on Ventura
• Expanded Caribbean and Panama Canal season with six ships sailing to these destinations and three ships offering a fly-cruise programme
• Increase in Canada and New England voyages with two September sailings and the inaugural visit for Arcadia Sphere: Related Content

Unnamed charter for Swan Hellenic’s Minerva

UK cruise operator Swan Hellenic has received a ‘significant whole ship charter’ for its 320 berth Minerva from an unnamed client for the period end of January 2010 through to early April. The charter covers the period of the vessel’s return from her South America/Antarctic season.  Sphere: Related Content

Palma home port for Thomson Dream

UK cruise line Thomson Cruises’ newest vessel, currently sailing as Costa Europa, will be renamed Thomson Dream when her 10 year charter starts in April 2010, with the vessel being ‘homeported’ in Palma, Majorca and offering three seven-night routes including Civitavecchia (Rome), Florence, Barcelona, and, for the first time for Thomson, La Goulette, Tunisia.

Palma is an ideal ‘homeport’ for a vessel specifically aimed at the UK cruise sector, as it can be reached by flights from 22 UK airports. Plans for Thomson Dream’s winter 2010/2011 season will be unveiled shortly.

The 1,506 passenger capacity Thomson Dream, built in 1986 as Homeric for US operator Home Lines, will be the fourth and largest in the UK operator’s fleet, and the most luxurious. All cabins have recently been renovated, while passengers will be able to choose from five dining venues including a main dining room, an a la carte grill and a 24-hour buffet. Sphere: Related Content

UK cruise market to hit 2m passengers by 2012

The booming UK cruise market is set to hit the magic 2m passenger mark by 2012, 600 delegates were told last week at the UK Cruise Convention in Dover.

Giles Hawke, Carnival UK’s sales and customer service director said: ‘The market is set for sustained growth as we expect 1.5m cruise sales this year. Sphere: Related Content

Noble Caledonia charters Prince Albert II

Special UK cruise operator Noble Caledonia has chartered one of the world’s most luxurious expedition-type cruise ships for a voyage around Britain and Ireland. The Silversea’s owned 130 passenger capacity Prince Albert II sailed from the south coast UK port of Portsmouth on 17 May on an 11-night cruise to Leith, with calls at Alderney & Guernsey, Tresco, Waterford & Kilkenny, Dublin, Gigha & Islay, Iona & Staffa, St Kilda, Inverewe Gardens, Orkney and Aberdeen.

This is the first time that Noble Caledonia has chartered Prince Albert II, which was formerly Society Expeditions’ World Discoverer, before being converted in Italy for use by Silversea as its first expedition cruise vessel. Sphere: Related Content