Saga gets Astoria at long last!

UK cruise operator Saga has finally got the vessel it has wanted as a replacement for its ageing Saga Rose, with the acquisition of the former Club Cruise owned Astoria at auction in Gibraltar.

Saga was in the process of buying Astoria earlier this year just before Club Cruise went into receivership and the vessel arrested in Barcelona. The UK operator already had a slot booked at Malta Shipyards for a refit, but this was lost as the delay in the vessel’s purchase went on. Astoria will now undergo a £14m refit at a yet to be named European shipyard this winter before entering service as the 446 passenger capacity Saga Pearl II in March 2010. During the refit the 1981-built vessel will be fitted with new balcony cabins, upgrading of the show lounge, spa and two swimming pools, the addition of a library, new galleys and a new Veranda Restaurant.  

The vessel’s inaugural cruise, an 18 night voyage to Norway and the Northern Lights, will sail from Southampton, UK on 15 March. Calls will be made at Bergen, Analyses, Alta, Tromso, Marvin, Sondheim, Alesund, Olden, Flåm and Stavanger. This was an early season cruise pioneered by Saga this year.

Saga Pearl II’s first season will see the vessel offer a series of cruises to North Africa, the Canaries, France and the Mediterranean, Greenland, Iceland and the Arctic, the Baltic and Scandinavia and the British Isles and Ireland, 

One special cruise during 2010 will be the seven night ‘Remembering Dunkirk’ voyage, which commemorates the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the beaches of northern France during WWII. This cruise departs Dover, UK on 29 May and calls at Dunkirk, Rotterdam, Ghent, Boulogne, Cherbourg and St. Peter Port (Guernsey).

Meanwhile, the final cruise of the much loved Saga Rose will see the vessel undertake a 37 night round-trip ‘The Farewell Voyage’ from Southampton sailing on 30 October 2009 with calls at Vigo, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Katakolon, Heraklion, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Alexandria, Piraeus, Valetta, Toulon, Alicante, Casablanca and La Coruna. Aboard the final sailing, which is ‘all inclusive’, will be a host of famous Brits, including Katherine Jenkins, Des O’Connor, Ronnie Corbett, Sally Gunnell, Terry Waite, Nicholas Parsons, Baroness Boothroyd, Lord Carey, Sir Bernhard Ingham, Tom O’Connor, Edwina Currie and Peter Sissons.  Sphere: Related Content

RCCL opens office in Sao Paulo

RCCL is ramping up its commitment to growing the South American cruise market by opening a new office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the first Royal Caribbean International company-owned office in the region.

Commenting on its decision to target Brazil, RCI President and CEO Adam Goldstein said: ‘The cruise market in Brazil is one of the fastest growing in the world, and with increased investment and commitment, we aim to accelerate this trend. In late 2009 RCI will have two ships – Vision of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas – dedicated to the Brazilian market which represents a significant uplift in available cruise departures.’

New for the 2009/2010 season, RCI will offer 21 departures of three and four night cruises from the port of Santos with the 2,000 passenger capacity Vision of the Seas and the 1,804 passenger capacity Splendour of the Seas. Also available are five, six, seven and eight night cruises onboard Vision of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas from December 2009.   Sphere: Related Content

Second vessel for easyCruise?

Following its recent take-over by Hellenic Seaways, Greece’s largest coastal ferry operator, easyCruise looks like getting a second vessel to join the 574 berth easyCruise Life. It is expected that the second vessel will come from the ANEK ferry fleet, with a decision on the actual ship being taken at the end of September this year.  Sphere: Related Content

Paul Gauguin chartered to Tahiti’s Pacific Beachcomber

The luxury 332 passenger capacity cruise ship Paul Gauguin has been long-term chartered to Tahiti’s Pacific Beachcomber with an option to purchase. At the same time Paul Gauguin Cruises, the marketing and operations arm of Paul Gauguin Shipping Ltd, has been acquired by the Tahitian company. Sphere: Related Content

QE2 drydocks in Dubai before heading off to the football World Cup in South Africa

The world’s most famous passenger ship, the former Cunard transatlantic liner QE2 has drydocked at Dubai’s Drydocks World – Dubai, to prepare the vessel for her stint as a floating hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, during next year’s football World Cup. She is expected to stay in Cape Town for 18 months.

QE2 entered drydock in Dubai last month for hull blasting and painting work, as well as survey work, overhaul of her air-conditioning and plumbing systems Sphere: Related Content

Aegean I to become first vessel for Voyages to Antiquity

Newcomer Voyages to Antiquity, established by former owner of Orient Lines, Gerry Herrod, has chosen the 1973-built 682 passenger capacity Aegean I as its first vessel. Following a major refit and upgrading the vessel will re-enter service in May 2010 as the Aegean Odyssey, offering a series of nine 14-night culturally oriented Mediterranean cruises.

The refit and upgrading of Aegean Odyssey will take place in Greece over the winter and will see the enlarging of the vessel’s upper level accommodation, as well as the addition of 42 balcony cabins and a new restaurant. Passenger capacity after the refit will drop to 382, including 16 single cabins.

Aegean Odyssey’s first cruise for Voyages to Antiquity from Piraeus will visit Nauplia and Monemvasia (both on Crete), Santorini, Rhodes, Delos, Mykonos, Samos, Kusadasi (overnight), Canakkale and Istanbul (overnight). The new line is looking to source its main passengers from both the UK and North American markets. Sphere: Related Content

Nordnorge looks for work

Norway’s Hurtigruten is looking for work for its 1997-built cruise ship Nordnorge following the ending of a charter in the Adriatic as an accommodation vessel for Aker Solutions. Sphere: Related Content

International culinary phenomenon named chef for signature restaurant onboard Oasis of the Seas

RCI continues to deliver the unexpected for its much anticipated Oasis of the Seas, including the chef de cuisine for 150 Central Park, the ship’s signature restaurant in the Central Park neighbourhood. Keriann Von Raesfeld, and award-winning, internationally acclaimed chef will be heading up the restaurant aboard the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship whe she enters service at the end of this year.

After a worldwide search for the most up and coming talent, RCI discovered Von Raesfeld at the prestigious 2008 World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) Congress in Dubai. Sphere: Related Content

$25m upgrade for Crystal Symphony in Boston

Boston’s Atlantic Marine Shipyard will undertake the US $25m refit of Crystal Cruises’ 1995-built Crystal Symphony this autumn. The work package will take place between 17 September and 1 October and will result in the vessel emerging from the Massachusetts shipyard with upgraded penthouses, pool areas, the Prego Italian Restaurant and Lido Café.

The vessel’s two 982 sq ft Crystal Penthouses will be stripped and transformed with luxurious fabrics, details and finishes. The living areas and bedroom will be enlarged and both the Master and Guest bathrooms will be fitted with rare marbles and designer fittings. The master baths will add a sunken Philippe Stark Duravit Jacuzzi tub with 90 degree sea views, glass mosaics and recessed TVs.

The vessel’s 61 butler-serviced Penthouses and Penthouse Suites will be redesigned, with the bathrooms getting a major make-over.

The Lido Café will be transformed into an upmarket dining location, while the pool areas will be redefined with new spaces, water features and furniture providing more indoor and al fresco dining. The Neptune Pool on the Lido Deck will be removed and replaced with teak decking and al fresco dining and lounging options around the Trident Bar.

During the September refit work will also be undertaken to upgrade the ship’s elevators, fit a new crew restaurant, install a new lighting system and upgrade the onboard medical centre. Sphere: Related Content

New fast ferry service for the Arabian Gulf

United Arab Emirates-based shipyard Abu Dhabi MAR moving into the fast ferry market by starting a service linking Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Iran at the end of this year. The new service, yet to be named, will use three former Canadian fast ferries built in 1999-2000 for west coast operator BC Ferries, but were never successful due to their high fuel costs.

Pacificat Explorer, Pacificat Discovery and Pacificat Voyager are being shipped from Vancouver to the Abu Dhabi MAR shipyard aboard a heavy lift vessel for extensive refits before entering service towards the end of this year on a service linking Abu Dhabi with Doha, Qatar; Manama, Bahrain and Bandar Abbas, Iran.

All three 122.5m fast ferries can each carry 1,000 passengers and 250 cars at a service speed of 37 knots. Sphere: Related Content

Euroferries saga continues

The much talked about Euroferries cross-channel fast ferry service between the UK and France has again been making noises about its ‘imminent’ start. The UK operator has been promising to start operations for the past year or so, but with many false dawns. Now its seems that the service will start at the end of August using the chartered Fred Olsen owned InCat 96m wave-piercing catamaran Bonanza Express, with Fred Olsen also being a partner in the new service.

Euroferries, now headed by new chairman Per Fleming Staehr, says that it has reached agreement with the owners of the south east UK port of Ramsgate (Thanet District Council) and the Port of Boulogne to start a daily service between Ramsgate and Boulogne with five return sailings a day. The service, aimed primarily at the tourist traffic between the UK and France, is expected to get a second vessel in the near future.  

Bonanza Express will carry 146 First Class passengers and 570 Economy Class passengers, as well as cars and coaches, at a speed of 38 knots. 

Commenting on the anticipated start of the service, new Chairman Per Flemming Staehr said: ‘Euroferries signing of this agreement with Thanet District Council enables us to look forward to building a long term relationship with the local community. Our new five crossings a day high speed service will be focussed on tourist traffic and takes full advantage of the new motorways both to Ramsgate and Boulogne along with the fast turn round terminal facilities within both ports. 

This agreement permits us to shortly announce the release of the new web booking service, further details and the provision of our new commuter coach service between London’s Stratford Hub and Ramsgate, serving Canterbury and the Medway Towns.’ Sphere: Related Content

LD Lines to start new Cherbourg-Rosslare service

French cross-channel ferry operator LD Lines is to introduce a new direct Irish Republic-France service between Rosslare and Cherbourg from 19 September 2009, replacing the company’s existing Rosslare-Le Havre service which started in November 2008.  

By moving the French port in the service to Cherbourg LD Lines will be able to offer an increased service frequency, due to shorter crossing times. The move is also being made to capitalise on the greater capacity available particularly for freight traffic via the port of Cherbourg, which is already a popular destination with the tourist market travelling directly from Southern Ireland. 

LD Lines’ 800 passenger, 200 car and up to 120 freight vehicle capacity Norman Voyager will be moved from her existing Portsmouth-Le Havre run to operate the new service, providing six return sailings each week, with a crossing time of 17 hours, compared to the previous 22 hours from Le Havre.

Replacing Norman Voyager on the Portsmouth-Le Havre run will be the LD Lines/Transmanche Ferries’ Cote d’Albatre. Sphere: Related Content

Hawaii Port Infrastructure Contract Awarded

The Maritime Administration has awarded a contract designed to streamline development efforts that modernize Hawaii’s commercial harbor facilities. A partnership between the Maritime Administration and the State’s Harbors Division was established in 2005 to facilitate the redevelopment and expansion of Hawaii’s port system -- efforts that are critical to the economy of Hawaii.

The seven year “Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity” contract with a maximum value of $400 million was awarded to TEC, Inc., through a competitive procurement process. The company has a major presence in Hawaii and has been active for many years in the fields of engineering, environmental planning, architecture, infrastructure development, and energy management. The Maritime Administration will oversee TEC’s personnel as they manage and complete all phases of the port redevelopment project. 

As the lead federal agency for the Hawaii Port Infrastructure Expansion Program, the Maritime Administration will partner with other federal agencies, the State, and local Hawaiian 
governments to implement time sensitive and cost effective infrastructure improvements that stimulate sustained economic growth. These efforts are expected to be completed within the timeframe of the contract and will ultimately transform Hawaii’s port system to improve transportation efficiency, air quality, and create jobs. 

Note: Harbour Mastery, Inc. (partner of Progress International) is in a teaming agreement with TEC Inc to provide “Intelligent Transportation Systems” including support for IT technologies to be identified and deployed during the term of the contract.  Sphere: Related Content

New Ghana, Nigeria West Africa Partners

GCNet Ltd

Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet Ltd) and Harbour Mastery will explore multiple options for integration with its global TradeNet backbone for Customs and EDI Manifests data. The Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS) is online 24/7 providing current customs data to its members in the shipping industry. Sphere: Related Content

New Ukraine Eastern Europe Partner

Global Protection Group - Maritime Services Division

The Maritime Services Division of the Global Protection Group (GPG) will represent the Harbour Mastery team in Eastern Europe through their Ukraine field office. Headquartered in the US, GPG specializes in ISPS code assessments and security planning and training in several international venues. Micah Hoevelman, CEO of GPC, is currently heading up the Ukraine field office. Sphere: Related Content

Can Celebrity take on Cunard out of the UK?

Up-market brand Celebrity Cruises is currently making a major push to increase its share of the growing UK cruise market. In 2010 the line will be homeporting its latest vessel, Celebrity Eclipse, in Southampton for the summer season. Celebrity is after the discerning British cruiser. The company openly says that it is after the top third of passengers who regularly cruise with P&O Cruises, i.e. those passengers who take the top priced cabins. Robin Shaw, Vice President and Managing Director, UK & Ireland, RCI, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises believes that there is ‘no direct competition for this ship (Celebrity Eclipse) in the UK market from Southampton,’ and ‘expects 90% of the passengers cruising on the new vessel from Southampton to be British.’ Dan Hanrahan, President & CEO of Celebrity went one further a said that ‘Celebrity Eclipse will give Cunard and run for its money,’ something outgoing Cunard president Carol Marlow dismissed totally when I put Hanrahan’s statement to her onboard Celebrity Equinox. We shall have to wait until April 2010 to see! Sphere: Related Content

Celebrity Equinox enters service

Celebrity Cruises’ newest vessel, the 1220,000grt, 2,850 passenger capacity Celebrity Equinox entered service at the end of July, sailing on her maiden fare paying passenger voyage from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords, following nearly two weeks of launch celebrations in Southampton.

Celebrity Equinox, the second of five sisterships ordered from Germany’s Meyer Werft, will return to Southampton on 8 August and then sail on a 10-night ‘Best of Europe’ cruise to Civitavecchia. She will then undertake a series of 13-night and 14-night ‘Ancient Empires’ cruises from Civitavecchia until October, then transferring to Florida for a winter Caribbean season.

The new vessel offers 11 different types of cabin, ranging in size from 1,291 sq ft for the two Penthouse Suites to 183 sq ft for the interior cabins. There are 130 special AquaClass cabins located on Deck 11 forward, each of 192 sq ft, with a 53 sq ft veranda.  


Passengers occupying these cabins have unlimited access to the AquaSpa relaxation room and Persian Garden, guaranteed complimentary dining in the ‘clean cuisine Blu restaurant, Hansgrohe shower panel, Frette robe and slippers; expanded personal care products including a spa kit, Spa Concierge, upgraded room service menu and exclusive continental breakfast in Blu.
  
Celebrity Equinox is one of the ‘greenest’ cruise ships yet to be built. Her green credentials are as follows:

• She is the industry’s second vessel (after sistership Celebrity Solstice) to use solar energy, with 234 foils and 61 panels – enough to power all of the ship’s passenger elevators, or more than 7,000 LED lights
• The hull was designed explicitly with energy efficiency in mind, with every angle closely tested and examined to achieve optimal cruising speed, passenger comfort, and fuel consumption
• A special silicon coating has been applied to the entire underwater area of the hull to reduce frictional resistance and trim fuel consumption, as well as inhibit marine growth
• She uses longer-lasting fluorescent and LED lights rather than higher wattage halogen and incandescent light bulbs, which generate less than 50% of the heat of the bulbs previously used, resulting in reduced energy consumption and more efficient air-conditioning
• The high-glazed glass of Celebrity Equinox’s windows reduces heat transfer into cabins and public areas, in turn reducing energy required for air-conditioning
• Advanced wastewater purification systems have been installed, capable of treating all wastewater streams onboard – including grey and black water – and restoring it close to drinking-water quality before releasing, along with low-energy reverse osmosis plants (water makers) for the production of fresh drinking water. Sphere: Related Content

Hellenic Seaways buys easyCruise

In a surprise move, Stelios Haji-Ioannou has sold easyCruise to Greek ferry giant Hellenic Seaways. No further details on this deal are known, although it is believed that Stelios has taken a stake in Sea Star Capital, Hellenic Seaway’s largest shareholder. Sphere: Related Content

Seatrade Europe to examine regulatory changes

Regulatory changes affecting the cruise industry will be one of the focal points of the debate at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg this autumn. Taking place at Hamburg Messe over the period 15-17 September, the afternoon session on 16 September will see leading industry specialists debate the implications of the new SOLAS 2010 regulations, which have a deadline of October next year, and the Safe Return to Port for newbuildings. Other topics being discussed during the panel session are: containing operating costs, saving energy, and controlling emissions and waste. 

Participants during the regulatory changes session will include Allan Bentley, director, Enviromar Consulting; Jochen Deerberg, owner and CEO of Deerberg Systems; Vesa Martinnen, general manager, STX Europe Lifecycle Services; Tom Strang, Vice President, Policy and Regulations, Carnival Corp, and chairman of the European Cruise Council’s environmental sub-committee; Hans van Midden, senior consultant Policy Research Group; and Andrea Zito, COO of V.Ships Leisure. Sphere: Related Content

San Diego contract for TEAM

Barcelona-based cruise and ferry passenger access specialist TEAM has won the contract to design, manufacturer and install one of its SEDNA-type mobile passenger boarding bridges (PBB) at the new cruise terminal currently under construction on Broadway Pier in San Diego, California. The new boarding facility is expected to be operation by the summer of 2010.

Designed by leading architects Bermello Ajamil and Partners, the new San Diego cruise terminal, being built for the Port of San Diego, will be a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)- certified building, meaning that it will be designed to use less water, less energy and produce fewer pollutants. The design features a unique ‘sawtooth’ roofline and glass roll-up doors. The façade of the building will be all glass, giving the structure an airing open feel.

In the design parameters for the TEAM PBB set out by the Port of San Diego, the capability of the system to be mobile and being parked behind the terminal building were important factors. Another important feature of the design is the adaptability of the PBB to connect with various entrances on the second level of the cruise terminal building and various access doors on cruise ships.

The length of the PBB will be more than 40m and the cabin is equipped with a uniquely integrated hydraulic, telescopic, docking ramp that, when attached to the side of a cruise ship, automatically follows the vessel’s movements and will immediately undock in the event of an emergency. 

The latest TEAM PBB contract brings to 10 the number of systems being designed and manufactured by the Spanish company for installation during 2009 and 20010. The contracts also include:

• Two systems for Creuers de Barcelona – Terminal A, Spain
• Two systems for Malaga Cruceros, Spain
• Two systems for Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal, France
• Two systems for Port of Miami, USA
• One system for City of Mobile, USA  Sphere: Related Content

Seabourn Sojourn to start life with a series of cruises ex-UK

The second of three ultra-luxury cruise ships building for Seabourn, Seabourn Sojourn, will start her service life next year with a series of cruises out of the UK port of Dover. The 32,000grt vessel has just arrived at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy for final outfitting work prior to being delivered in May 2010.

The 198m hull and main superstructure of the vessel up to Deck 9 were built in San Giorgio Di Nogaro, near Trieste, at the new Friuli shipyard, with the main engines, generators and major equipment already installed, before being towed to Genoa for completion. 

Like newly delivered sistership Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn is an all-suite vessel with 225 suites, 90% of which have private verandas; offering one of the highest space-per-passenger ratios in the industry. 

Seabourn Sojourn will be named in London in June 2010 before sailing on her maiden cruise on 6 June; a 14 day ‘North Star Sojourn’ to Iceland and the Norwegian fjords, calling at Invergordon, Scotland; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland; Olden and Bergen, Norway; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; with the cruise ending in the UK port of Dover. Passengers can also extend the maiden voyage into a 28 day Grand Voyage with a second 14 day round-trip cruise from Dover to the Baltic, calling at Lubeck, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden. She will then make a 14 day Scottish Isles & Norwegian Fjords cruise from Dover to Copenhagen on 4 July, then carry out a series of cruises from the Danish capital until mid September, before returning to Dover for more cruises, then moving to the Mediterranean in October for cruises from Lisbon and Civitavecchia, before crossing the Atlantic at the end of October to start a series of Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. 

Seabourn Sojourn will undertake her first World Cruise on 5 January 2011; a 99 day voyage from Los Angeles to Civitavecchia. Sphere: Related Content

Brazilian charter for Orient Queen

Louis Cruise Lines’ 1968-built Orient Queen has been chartered for a four month period from November this year by Brazil’s largest cruise and tour operator Agencia de Viagens CVC Tur. The former Israeli owned vessel will operate a series of cruise from the Brazilian port of Recife. Sphere: Related Content

Pioneering cruise ship sold for scrap

One of the vessels which pioneered cruising in the Far East has been sold for scrap in China. The 12,700grt, 1967-built Golden Princess, owned by Hong Kong’s Golden Princess Cruise Line, started operations in the Far East back in the 1980s as the Pearl of Scandinavia and then as Ocean Pearl, and attracted European and North America cruise passengers to Asia for the first time. 

Ending Far East operations in 1995, the vessel then moved to Cuba as the Costa Playa, before returning to Hong Kong as a casino ship, operating in this role until this year.  Sphere: Related Content

Trimline completes fast ferry refit work in the UK and Spain

Two fast ferries coming into service in Europe for this summer season have been significantly assisted by Southampton, UK-based marine outfitters Trimline. 

In the Mediterranean, Trimline has completed a 10-day alongside refit in Algeciras, Spain preparing FRS Line’s 86m Incat-built wave-piercing catamaran Tarifa Jet for the peak summer season. Tarifa Jet operates between Tarifa, Spain and Tangiers, Morocco, has benefited from improved facilities for her 800 passengers with Altro Walkway flooring being laid, toilets upgraded and various refurbishments carried out to the servery in both café areas. Trimline will carry out further work on this vessel at the end of the summer season.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Trimline has played a major part in the introduction of cross-Solent ferry operator Red Funnel’s new fast ferry Red Jet 5 on its Southampton-West Cowes service. The refit was undertaken at Trafalgar Wharf in Portchester, near Portsmouth, formerly the VT Shipbuilding facility.

Trimline’s work package on the 35m, US-built ferry included the expanding and upgrading of the vessel’s passenger lounge, electrical installation work and the fitting of a new air-conditioning system. New seating for 187 passengers has been installed in the main lounge, where new carpeting and flooring has been laid. The original toilets have been stripped out and rebuilt, while new bulkheads, deckheads and windows have also been fitted. Sphere: Related Content

Brittany Ferries offers wildlife adventures with ORCA

French cross-channel operator Brittany Ferries’ twice-weekly service linking Portsmouth and Plymouth in the UK with the northern Spanish port of Santander is now offering wildlife enthusiasts with a series of dedicated wildlife cruises in co-operation with leading marine conservation charity ORCA.

In a new partnership, ORCA will provide wildlife education officers living and working onboard Brittany Ferries flagship Pont Aven through the summer and autumn this year. Not only are they on hand to help passengers make sightings of whales and dolphins and identify any animals encountered, but they will also give fun and informative presentations about these highly complex and intelligent mammals, and the delicate ecosystems they inhabit.

With extensive promenade decks and observation areas, as well as a range of comfortable restaurants and lounges with panoramic windows, Pont Aven offers a prime vantage point across the spectacular seascape of the Bay of Biscay. The Bay is home to over 20 different species of whales, dolphins and porpoise, including the fin whale, the second largest animal on earth!

David Longden, Brittany Ferries’ managing director explained the philosophy behind the venture; ‘being a maritime company we’re ever conscious of the marine environment in which we operate, as well as the responsibilities which come with that. By working with ORCA we can raise people’s awareness of the wildlife in the Channel and Bay of Biscay, and in turn promote its protection.’

Sphere: Related Content