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Dusit International makes its grand debut in Qatar

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With a view to capture major market share in Qatar’s hospitality sector, Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, is set to make its Qatar debut with the launch of Dusit Doha Hotel on 25 April 2019.

Located in the heart of Doha’s vibrant West Bay area, adjacent to the breezy Corniche, Dusit Doha Hotel is a five-star modern oasis only 20 minutes by car from Hamad International Airport, and just a five-minute walk from Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, the City centre Mall and The Gate Mall, making it a perfect stopover for business and leisure travellers alike.

Designed to provide luxury experiences at excellent value, the full-service property comprises 261 well-appointed guestrooms and suites and 96 elegant apartments for short- and long-stay guests. Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, honed and developed over more than 70 years, ensures guests can expect memorable, personalised service delivered with genuine care, warmth and respect. Rooms and suites at Dusit Doha Hotel are designed to provide the utmost in comfort and convenience, with expansive living areas ranging in size from 41 sq m for a Superior Room to 131 sq. m for a Suite. Apartments are available in one-to three-bedroom configurations and provide spacious living areas ranging from 95 to 193 sq. m.

Leisure and recreation facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, children’s pool, and a sundeck area offering panoramic views of West Bay. Guests will also find a wealth of dining outlets to choose from, including three restaurants, a classic French café, and a relaxing rooftop lounge.

Ready to welcome guests by the hotel’s opening date is Taste, a contemporary all-day dining restaurant serving tantalising dishes from around the globe and also hosting regular theme nights. This will soon be joined by Dusit’s signature Thai restaurant, Benjarong, which serves Royal Thai cuisine made using the finest local and imported ingredients.

Other upcoming outlets include Antoinette’s Café, bringing a taste of Europe to Doha via fresh French pastries and other baked treats, and The House, offering premium steaks and seafood.

Ideal for weddings, corporate meetings, and memorable social gatherings, the hotel also offers a versatile 574 sq. m ballroom which can accommodate up to 500 people. Spacious and bright with abundant natural light, this atmospheric venue features its own private terrace and can be divided into two smaller venues, each with a separate entrance.

Dusit’s signature Devarana Spa is also set to open at the hotel, offering a wide range of luxury massage therapies and wellness treatments conducted in elegant, private treatment rooms. Designed to promote maximum relaxation, the elegant spa will occupy the entire 29th floor of the hotel, offering separate male and female sections.

“A modern oasis for people to meet, dine, stay and relax, Dusit Doha Hotel delivers the ultimate in luxury and comfort for locals and international visitors alike,” said Mr Gerhard Stutz, Cluster General Manager, Dusit Doha Hotel. “Qatar is one of the fastest growing countries in terms of tourism, and its reputation as a destination of choice is only set to be cemented further when the FIFA World Cup is held here in 2022. As such, there could not have been a more opportune time to launch Dusit Doha Hotel. We now look forward to delighting guests with our unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality while positioning the hotel as the market leader in Doha.”

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Ideal ocean cruise ship: Ship sizes and what they mean for your cruise

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Ships sizes range from megaships (over 4,000 passengers) to very small vessels and luxury yachts whose passengers number in mere dozens, and knowing the differences is key to planning your best cruise vacation.

Cruise experts have divided today’s ships into six categories and provides information on the benefits each provides: XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL.

Extra, Extra Large Ships (XXL) – 4,000+ passengers

These megaships boast unparalleled options in entertainment and amenities. They truly give the impression of being on board a floating city and provide endless choices in dining, activities and shopping (some are so large as to even incorporate a “mall” area with brand name stores). If you desire a resort-type feel from your cruise or worry about sea-sickness, this may be your best option.

Some benefits of XXL ships:

•A large variety of cabin options in every price range
•Dining options that range from small, informal cafes to 5-star restaurants
•Over the top entertainment options that include Broadway-quality shows, 3-D movie theaters, large casinos, extensive waterpark areas and more
•Extremely comprehensive children’s programs and amenities
•Increased ship stability; little sea motion

Example XXL ships:

•Royal Caribbean International: Allure of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas; Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas
•Disney Cruise Line: Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
•Costa Cruise Line: Costa Diadema, Costa Venezia, Costa Smeralda
•MSC Cruises: MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Virtuosa; MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Seaview, MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina MSC Splendida,
•Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape
•Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Panorama, Carnival Vista, Carnival Mardi Gras

Extra Large Ships (XL) – 3,000-3,999 passengers

These extra-large ships are a destination unto themselves and are especially good for families and multigenerational cruises due to the many amenities found onboard. There is something for everyone, and many cruisers enjoy their time onboard as much as they do the destinations they visit.

Some benefits of XL ships:

•An abundance of cabin options in many different price ranges
•A variety of dining options, ranging from ultra-casual to very upscale and formal
•A popular favorite with families due to the extensive children’s amenities and programs
•Round-the-clock facilities and activities, such as casinos, water parks, gyms and spas
•Excellent entertainment options and Broadway-quality shows like Royal Caribbean’s productions of Chicago, Hairspray and Saturday Night Fever

Example XL ships:

•Royal Caribbean International: Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas
•Princess Cruises: Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Majestic Princess, Ruby Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Sky Princess
•Carnival Cruises: Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Dream, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Magic, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise
•Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Reflection,
•MSC Cruises: MSC Poesia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Musica,
•Costa Cruises: Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Magica, Costa Pacifica
•Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Joy

Large Ships (L) – 2,000 to 2,999 passengers

Large ships offer many of the same amenities as the XL ships, on a slightly smaller scale. They don’t necessarily require a ship map to navigate to entertainment and activity options, and tend to have more personal touches.

Some benefits of L ships:

•Many cabin options in different price ranges
•Numerous dining options, ranging from very casual to formal
•A popular favorite with families due to the extensive children’s amenities and programs
•Also popular with older cruisers, as the pace onboard is not as frenetic
•A variety of activities, such as casinos, gyms and spas and often there are bridge instructors on longer itineraries
•Entertainment options may include things like a fireworks display, outdoor movies and stage shows
•Onboard lecturers are often more cerebral with topics like history, politics and geography.

Example L Ships:

•Royal Caribbean International: Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas
•Princess Cruises: Coral Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sun Princess
•Cunard Cruises: Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2
•Holland America Line: Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Koningsdam,, Nieuw Statendam
•Disney Cruises: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder
•Carnival Cruises: Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Victory, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Conquest
•MSC Cruises: MSC Opera, MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Orchestra, MSC Seaview
•Costa Cruises: Costa Mediterranea, Costa Luminosa, Costa Deliziosa, Costa Serena, Costa Fortuna, MSC Sinfonia
•Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Silhouette
•Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, Pride of America

Medium Ships (M) – 951 to 1,999 passengers

Medium ships generally offer a slower pace than their large counterparts, with fewer crowds, less noise and more modest offerings when it comes to activity and entertainment options. Many cruisers prefer this size of ship for its “relaxation” vibe. Many of these ships tend to be more luxurious with more personal service.

Some benefits of M ships:

•Many of the premium cruise lines have ships that fall into this category
•Several dining options
•Medium-size ships still tend to have amenities like casinos, pools and spas
•Entertainment options tend to include more enrichment activities
•Attracts a more mature crowd that is focused on relaxation and enjoyment of the voyage
•Smaller size of the ships open up options as far as itineraries and ports
•Itineraries are likely to be 10 days or longer

Example M Ships:

•Holland America Line: HAL Maasdam, HAL Veendam, HAL Amsterdam, HAL Rotterdam, HAL Volendam, HAL Zaandam, HAL Oosterdam, HAL Westerdam, HAL Zuiderdam, HAL Noordam
•Princess Cruises: Coral Princess, Island Princess, Dawn Princess, Sea Princess, Sun Princess
•Crystal Cruises: Crystal Serenity
•Oceania Cruises: Oceania Riviera
•Costa Cruises: Costa Classica, Costa Victoria, Costa neoRomantica, Costa neoRiviera
•Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line: Grand Celebration
•Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Sun

Small Ships (S) – 950 passengers or less

Small ships fill a niche for cruisers that are looking for more in-depth exploration of the regions they visit. They can visit ports that are inaccessible to larger ships, and exotic itineraries are the standard. Most river cruise ships and almost all the luxury lines have ships that fall into this category.

Some benefits of S ships:

•Most cabins are suites and have balconies
•Luxury and service are frequently a focal point of a small ship voyage
•Amenities, while limited, tend to be very high end, including dining, shore excursions, spas and enrichment activities.
•Small ships trend toward a truly all-inclusive fare
•Smaller dining and shared areas lend themselves lively conversations and closer relationships with fellow passengers.
•Itineraries tend to be 10 days or longer

Example S ships:

•Princess Cruises: Pacific Princess
•Crystal Cruises: Crystal Symphony
•Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Explorer
•Oceania Cruises: Oceania Insignia, Oceania Nautica, Oceania Regatta, Oceania Sirena, Oceania Marina
•Silversea Cruises: Silver Muse, Silver Moon
•Azamara Club Cruises: Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit
•Costa Cruises: Costa Voyager
•Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, Viking Orion, Viking Jupiter
•Seabourn: Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation

Extra Small Ships (XS) – 201-499 passengers

Very small ships offer a private, exclusive ambiance, along with personalized service and the advantage of being able to port almost anywhere. Passengers get a feel for the water and experience destinations in a very close-up, personal way.

Some benefits of XS ships:

•The most important benefit of small ship cruising is an immersive experience in the destination. Very small ships allow an in-depth exploration of nature, culture, history and learning not possible on larger ships.
•Passengers tend to be a well-traveled, worldly crowd who enjoy the pursuit of education and exploration of the destinations they visit
•Very personal attention from the crew; with luxury cruises this translates to personal attendants that see to your every need
•More solitude and the opportunity to relax and pursue your own interests
•Seating is usually open, with no set tables

Example XS ships:

•Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Navigator
•Silversea Cruises: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit
•Seabourn: Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Spirit,
•Windstar Cruises: Wind Surf, Star Pride, Star Breeze, Star Legend
•Paul Gauguin Cruises: MS Paul Gauguin
•Voyages to Antiquity Cruises: MV Aegean Odyssey
•Star Clippers: Royal Clipper

Extra-Extra Small Ship-XXS- Under 200 passengers

Example of XXS ships:

•Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Flora-100 Celebrity Xpedition, Celebrity Xperience, Celebrity Xploration
•SeaDream Yacht Club: Sea Dream I, SeaDream II
•Silversea Cruises: Silver Discoverer, Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos
•Windstar Cruises: Wind Spirit, Wind Star, Wind Spirit,
•Star Clippers: Star Clipper,Star Flyer

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Relive the spirit of the Renaissance during Brussels’ Carolus V Festival

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From May to September, the Carolus V Festival is an opportunity for Brussels to relive the spirit of the Renaissance. Among the countless activities offered, the talks and guided walks through the capital of Europe let visitors explore the time of Charles V, the most powerful emperor of the 16th century. This year, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the death of the great Flemish master Bruegel, several new activities have recently been added to the festival’s extensive programme.

The Carolus V Festival programme is part of the cultural network ‘European routes of Emperor Charles V’. This tourist and historical route is recognised by the European Council’s European Institute of Cultural Routes. It reunites the places that marked the reign of Charles V and the cities he passed through.

The heritage and history of Europe in the 16th century are thus highlighted thanks to a series of festive, cultural and family-oriented activities organised in several spaces throughout the Brussels Capital Region. Through tours and outings, visitors relive various aspects of life under the reign of Charles V.

This year, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the death of the great Flemish master Bruegel, the festival will offer visitors a variety of original exhibitions and activities. This is the perfect occasion to (re)discover the monumental work of the greatest Flemish painter of the 16th century.

Here is a quick snippet of the guided tours and talks from this special year:

GUIDED TOURS

Brussels in the time of Erasmus – FR

From the Petit Sablon square to the Erasmus House garden, this tour allows you to follow in the footsteps of Erasmus and the century in which he lived.
Dates: 22/06 & 21/09 at 2 pm

Bruegel the Elder and the secret of the two keys

Let’s stroll through Brussels where, beginning in 1562, Bruegel lived and created his most beautiful paintings. A true alchemist, did he know the secret of the two keys?
Dates: 14/07 & 08/09 at 2.30 pm

Bruegel and his Marollen – FR

Come on this walking journey and discover the Marollen of the 16th century… and more specifically the protagonist of our artistic culture: Pieter Bruegel.
Date: 02/06 at 2 pm

Charles V and Brussels Golden Age in the Renaissance – FR – EN

Starting at the Place Royal in the Sablon neighbourhood, then moving toward the Grand Place, you can admire parks and churches, palaces or plain facades and the statues and fountains that bring back memories of Charles V.
Dates:
FR: 06/06 at 11 am
EN: 21/06 at 11 am

Behind the scenes at the Ommegang, part 1 – FR

Dive into 1549 with a guide in period costume and find out how the show is put together. We invite you behind the scenes of the Ommegang to witness its frantic preparations.
Date: 09/06 at 2 pm

Habits and customs of the Renaissance: Brussels, a walled city – FR This ‘route’ will lead you from a seigneurial area to a bourgeois area.

Date: 23/06 at 2 pm

Behind the scenes of the Ommegang, part 2 – FR

Two hours before the Ommegang, you can wonder at and experience the last preparations of this commemorative show.
Date: 28/06 at 7 pm

Guided tours. Brussels in the time of Erasmus – EN

From the Petit Sablon square to the Erasmus House garden, this tour allows you to follow in the footsteps of Erasmus and the century in which he lived.
Date: 22/06 at 2 pm

Guided tours of the Erasmus House – FR – NL

As part of the Heritage Days, discover the Erasmus House with our seasoned guides!
Dates: 14 & 15/09, 10 am – 6 pm

For several of these visits, group visits are also available on demand for the duration of the festival (according to availability of guides) in multiple languages (FR, NL, EN, DE, ES), and certain visits in French are adapted for those with vision impairments.

Talks that history enthusiasts will love

During May and June, history buffs can attend talks to better understand the realities of the period and to learn more about Brussels in the time of Bruegel.

Bruegel, a Brussels painter? – FR

It was during the 1560s and in Brussels that Bruegel created the majority of the paintings that we attribute to him today. The awareness of the ties between the artist and the city provide quite a different story about who he was or what the city where he lived and worked was like. It’s shocking how much recent research is providing us with new information on the Brussels of this master. If he did not in fact live where we always suspected he had, it can’t be far off. It is likely that Dull Gret, his most important work preserved in Antwerp, was not made in Antwerp but in Brussels.

Useful information:
Date: 23/05
Time: 6.30 pm
Speaker: Roel Jacobs
Location: Bibliothèque des Riches-Claires – 1000 Bru
Price: Free

Brussels in the time of Bruegel – FR-NL

The 1560s are one of the most important decades in Brussels’ history, and it is also the period in which Pieter Bruegel lived in the city. You will understand how important the city was in Bruegel’s life just by learning about the history of the city during that period.

Useful information: Dates: 20/06 NL
27/06 FR
Speaker: Roel Jacobs Time: 6 pm
Length: 1.5 hours
Price: Free
Location: Maison du Roi – Grand – Place 1000 Bru Info &

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Brussels Tourism: A street art trail about Bruegel

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visit.brussels, in collaboration with the Brussels collective Farm Prod has been working on a street art trail to pay homage to the Flemish old master Pieter Bruegel right in the heart of the Belgian capital. Visitors will be able to see a first work by the French artist Lazoo in the Marolles neighburhood, while finishing touches are being put to another on the Rue Baron Horta.

Brussels and Bruegel are inextricably linked. The artist spent most of his life in Brussels, where he is also buried. Brussels was a great source of inspiration for Bruegel, in fact twothirds of his works were painted here. His influential patrons lived in Mont des Arts, a short walk from his house. Today, it houses a significant part of Bruegel’s work. After the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium have the largest collection of Bruegel’s paintings and the Royal Library has no less than 90 engravings.

Brussels had to dedicate a number of events to this world-renowned artist to mark the 450th anniversary of his death. visit.brussels, in collaboration with the collective Farm Prod, has also paid homage to Pieter Bruegel by developing a street art trail in the heart of the city. The route takes in institutions, passing through places with some notable Bruegel connections (historical links and permanent collections, etc.).

A first glimpse of the work on this trail can already be seen on Rue Haute, close to the Porte de Halle. It is a work by the French artist Lazoo, inspired by the “The Wedding Dance”. A second monumental work is currently in progress, close to BOZAR on the Rue Baron Horta.

From mid-June onward, at least eleven frescoes, also painted by artists forming part of the collective together with famous invited artists, will be able to be admired along the trail. A great opportunity to discover Bruegel in a different light.

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Antigua and Barbuda strengthens its partner relations for win-win solutions for the upcoming cruise season 2019/2020

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Antigua & Barbuda’s Tourism Delegation led by the Hon. H. Charles Fernandez held a series of meetings with the country’s critical cruise line Partners  at Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s largest annual conference being held at the newly rebuilt Miami Beach Convention Center.

The annual Seatrade Cruise Global Conference presented Antigua and Barbuda with a not to be missed opportunity to showcase its products and services to the cruise industry buyers and decision makers. It provided unique networking opportunities with industry leaders from all facets of the industry, and exposed its tourism executives to the conference’s educational industry programs, which allows participants to stay ahead of the curve.

The Country’s vibrant destination booth was a hub of activity as Antigua and Barbuda tourism officials conducted a series of one-on-one meetings, and media interviews.

In its communication to the major cruise lines the destination provided updates to its industry partners on its recently announced partnership with Global Port Holdings (GPH) and the Government’s strategic plans to expand the St. John’s Port facilities, to position the destination to take advantage of the growing industry trend towards larger cruise ships.

GPH also used the opportunity to announce its partnership with its two new Caribbean destinations Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas at a gala reception attended by over 600 cruise industry stakeholders.

In meeting after meeting Cruise-line executives reconfirmed their support for the initiative taken by Antigua & Barbuda to improve its infrastructure to offer the best possible service to cruise passengers. This more than anything else will ensure it remains well positioned as a premier cruise destination of choice within the Caribbean on many of the cruise line itineraries.

A major increase for the destination comes from a Key European cruise line partner TUI Cruises whose new ship the Mein Schiff 2, will increase calls to the destination after an absence of three years. Mein Schiff 2 will visit the destination on its inaugural call on November 6th with a total of 13 calls for season 2019/20 bringing over 37,000 passengers.

Another key Partner Norwegian Cruise Lines will return with the Norwegian “Epic” which was a diversion that has now become permanent, along with the Norwegian “Bliss” in the breakaway plus class. This ship will make its inaugural call on December 9th with over 4,000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) one of the Country’s key partners confirmed that larger ships will be serving the destination this upcoming season and we will see an increase to approximately 250,000 passengers this year from its various lines. Antigua and Barbuda continues to record strong customer satisfaction scores of 8.8 out of a maximum of 10 with RCCL guests.

MSC cruise lines the world’s fastest growing cruise line, indicated Antigua is and will continue to be a key port of call as the company has 10 new ships on order and will be increasing its fleet to 29 ships with the delivery of one new ship per year up to 2027.

In a joint meeting with representatives for all the Carnival Corporation Cruise Lines the commitment was given at the highest level by all the attendee member lines to continue to work together with Antigua and Barbuda to our mutual benefit.

The Country’s presence at Seatrade also facilitates local stakeholder partners to also meet cruise line executives to increase their tours and excursion business. Local partners included Wadadli Cats, South American Ventures Ltd, The Rendezvous Company and Tropical Adventures.

Minister of Tourism the Hon. Charles Fernandez in all meetings thanked our cruise line partners for their support over the years and reconfirmed our commitment to work with all partners for win-win outcomes as the country continues on its development path to be a premier port of call for all cruise lines visiting the Caribbean.  “The Industry leaders have  reported that 2018 was the best year for profitability and have forecasted that, with a record orderbook for 70 new ships over the next three years and a record 25 million set to cruise in 2019, the Caribbean continues to be the world’s number one cruising destination. The renewed focus on improving our infrastructure by the Government has now positioned the destination to increase its share of this business,” said Minister Fernandez.

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Sea cruise 2019-2020: What is the Italian trend?

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Sea cruising in Italy is starting to grow again, aligning itself with the international trend. This is the message of the president of Cemar Agency Network of Genoa, who presented – during the Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami – the 2019 and 2020 forecasts for the cruise sector in the Italian ports.

An increase of around 7.13% is expected in terms of passengers  (for a total of 11,911,000 of cruise passengers) and a further +7.88% is expected on 2020 with the expectation expected to total up to 13 million passengers.

“I believe that such a positive result must be mainly attributed to the new units that are becoming part of all the most important fleets of cruise ships,” reflects the president, Senesi. In detail, this year, the ships will increase to 4,860 units, while 149 ships will be in transit in Italian sea ports representing 46 shipping companies.

Among the 70 ports involved in cruise traffic, the primacy of Civitavecchia (Italy) will be confirmed in 2019, with 2,567,000 passengers (+5.13% compared to 2018). Venice will follow with 1,544,000 passengers (-1.06%) and Genoa in third place with an excellent result of 1,343,000 passengers (+32.79%).

It will then be the turn of Naples with 1,187,000 (+20.35%), followed by Livorno with 812,000 (+3.29%). The ranking of the top 10 Italian ports closes with Savona, Bari, La Spezia, Palermo, and Messina.

Among the companies that this year will handle the largest number of tourists in Italy’s sea ports, the podium is held by MSC Cruises (3,622,000 passengers), Costa Crociere (2,725,000 pax) and Norwegian Cruise Line (863,000 pax). Looking instead at the Cruise Groups, the first place goes to Carnival Corporation with 4,117,000 passengers, followed by MSC, Royal Caribbean with all its brands (including Silversea) with 2,115,000 pax, and NCL Holding with over 1 million cruise passengers.

The busiest months will be October (1,744,000 passengers and 781 stopovers), June (1,505,000 pax and 614 stopovers), September (1,497,000 pax and 627 stops), and May (1,488,000 pax and 687 stopovers), while the least trafficked will obviously be the winter ones, with February and January in the lead.

“The positive forecasts for the two-year period 2019-2020 must not lead us to lower our guard. Italy is in fact the first cruise destination in the Mediterranean, and thanks to the upcoming new ships being delivered during this two-year period, increasingly green ships, there will be further space for growth. The incognita remain on Venice which to date has not been resolved and which creates strong doubts about future planning for the entire Adriatic,” concluded Senesi.

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Celebrity Cruises orders fifth Edge-Class cruise ship

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique to order a fifth Edge-class ship for delivery in the fall of 2024.

“Edge class made an immediate hit with Celebrity Cruises guests and is a state-of-the-art example of technical excellence and elegant design,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We can’t wait to build the next one.”

“Celebrity Edge has delighted our guests and affirmed Celebrity Cruises as the leading modern luxury brand. Chantiers de l’Atlantique has been a brilliant partner and we look forward to creating another amazing vessel with them,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

“We are really proud and happy to have built such an outstanding relationship with our customer, based on mutual trust and driven by the spirit of innovation,” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “After the four Millennium-class ships at the beginning of 2000’s and the four Edge-class ships, this is the ninth ship ordered by Celebrity Cruises at our shipyard and it will be the 24th vessel built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and operated by RCL. This is a real testimony of the exceptional level of cooperation we reached together.”

Celebrity Edge was delivered in 2018. Three other Edge-class ships were ordered earlier and are scheduled for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This new order is contingent upon financing.

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Luxury boutique cruise line launching coastal fleet

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Scheduled to begin full operations in November 2019, an explorer class vessel will serve three new destinations with year-round departures. The full announcement on vessel name, facts, destinations and itinerary details will be released globally on May 8, 2019.

Boutique luxury cruise line, Aqua Expeditions, is set to enter the coastal cruise market in the fall of 2019, after operating as an Amazon and Mekong River cruise line for the past twelve years.

A month ago, Aqua Expeditions finalized the purchase of a long-range 200-foot explorer yacht originally built for Britain’s Royal Navy; the vessel is now undergoing a complete refurbishment designed to transform it into an ultra-modern luxury expedition cruise ship catering to affluent explorers.

The May 8 announcement will also unveil a brand-new, state-of-the-art, luxury river cruise vessel to consolidate Aqua Expeditions’ position as one of the leaders in the river-cruise market. Once this and the recently-purchased expedition vessel are in operation, Aqua Expeditions will have doubled its fleet from two to four vessels by mid-2020.

“Even as we grow, as an owner, I remain deeply involved in every aspect of the new vessels – from the minutiae of the design details to the intricacies of the itineraries — just as we did when we started out in 2007,” says CEO Francesco Galli Zugaro, “and, as with all Aqua Expeditions vessels, we are partnering both with renowned designers and critically acclaimed chefs to provide a world-class experience.”

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St. Kitts shines in US Roadshow 2019

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A signature activity in US, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority conducted its 2nd annual Destination St. Kitts & Nevis US Roadshow 2019 from Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29. The week-long series of 6 events were held in New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston, Farmer’s Branch (Texas) and Dallas in order to grow visitor arrivals from these gateway markets and supporting flow markets. These events were designed to educate travel agents, tour operators, MICE buyers, wedding and honeymoon planners, media and experiential lifestyle consumers about everything the destination has to offer both business and leisure travelers.

“This year’s US Roadshow was a resounding success with record numbers of attendees for each event,” said the Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts & Nevis. “Having attracted the sheer number of travel agents, MICE buyers, media and more who sell or publicize business and/or leisure travel demonstrates that there is growing interest and demand in these gateway markets for the tourism product that St. Kitts & Nevis has to offer.”

The first event was a brunch held at The Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown, New York, an affluent suburb north of New York City on Monday, March 25. The second event was a dinner held at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, New Jersey, an upscale neighborhood in the northern part of the state, also on March 25. On Tuesday, March 26, the third event was a dinner held at the Westin Buckhead, located in an affluent suburb just north of Atlanta. The fourth event was a luncheon held on Wednesday, March 27, at the Hess Club in Houston. A cocktail reception held on Thursday, March 27 at the Brookhaven Country Club in Farmer’s Branch, an affluent suburb of Dallas, Texas, was the fifth event in the Roadshow, while the sixth and final event was a luncheon held at III Forks Restaurant in Dallas.

All events supported St. Kitts’ non-stop flights and attracted a total of 300 attendees combined, all of whom were travel agents, MICE buyers, tour operators, wedding and honeymoon planners, media or experiential lifestyle consumers. Attendees were top travel professionals representing some of the most respected organizations in the business, including Maritz Travel, Cox Enterprises, Pro Travel International, Meetings Plus, Valerie Wilson Travel, Houston Style Magazine, Frosch, Questex LLC, Travel Impressions, and Westchester magazine.

“Developing lasting relationships with top travel professionals in our key gateway markets is a key component of our overall marketing strategy for the destination and our Roadshow provides us with the opportunity to connect with these individuals face-to-face,” added Racquel Brown, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “In order to continue growing arrivals, we need to maintain and expand our base of sellers to help fill our non-stop flights as we continue to build out new and increased airlift from the US.”

In addition to being treated to a meal and lively conversation with representatives from St. Kitts, the individuals played games, listened to presentations and won a variety of prizes from hotel stays to bottles of St. Kitts’ own Brinley Gold Shipwreck rum that were provided by participating local island tourism stakeholders. In addition, attending travel agents were offered a special $150 incentive for booking clients’ air only on the non-stop flights to St. Kitts or air in combination with a hotel reservation at participating destination hotels, all offering special Summer Sunsation rates, between now and May 17, 2019 for clients’ travel through August 17, 2019 when they log their productivity on St. Kitts’ website or via the Destination Specialist program with Travel Agent University. As a result, many attendees are now adding St. Kitts & Nevis as a featured destination they will sell to their clients.

The delegation from St. Kitts inclded: the Hon. Lindsay F. P. Grant, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts & Nevis; Racquel Brown, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; Ambassador Jonel Powell, Chairman of the Artist Selection Committee for the St. Kitts Music Festival; Annie Sinzinger, US Marketing Manager for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; Denise Zimber, Christina Mucha and Shayna White, Marketing Consultants for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; Tom Jaronski, Golf Consultant for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; and Candice Kimmel, CEO and Founder of Adams Unlimited, PR & Marketing Agency in North America for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.

A number of tourism stakeholders from St. Kitts & Nevis were also part of the delegation, including: Troy Hendrickson, Carib Journey Masters; Tawanna Wigley, Sales Representative, Ocean Terrace Inn; Richard Berridge, General Manager, Kayanjet; Jaana Kuntonen, Sunlinc; Christine Marshall, Sales Manager, Park Hyatt St. Kitts; Sylvia Martinez, Director of Sales and Marketing, St. Kitts Marriott; Tim Thuell, Nisbet Plantation; Cyndi Miller-Aird, President, Miller + Aird Destination Marketing for Belle Mont Farm; Jamar Wilkins, Travel Industry Sales Manager, Four Seasons Resort Nevis; and Darren Thompson, General Manager, Royal St. Kitts.

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Tartan pride celebrated nationwide and in Hawaii, too

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Tartan Day is a North American celebration of Scottish heritage, observed April 6, the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath (Scottish Declaration of Independence) was submitted to Pope John XXII, in 1320. It was written in Latin, and essentially decreed Scots will choose their own king, and furthermore, Scotsmen rejected the propaganda that God desired the English kings to victimize and abuse them.  Among the signatories of this papal protest was Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, the progenitor of my ancestors, the Stewart Kings of Scotland.  Throughout the North American Continent, Tartan Day was celebrated this past weekend.

There are well over 4,000 tartan designs that are registered. However, there are only about 500 tartans that have ever been woven.  The most exclusive is the Balmoral, worn only by the Royal Family of The United Kingdom.  Queen Victoria made wearing tartans popular; bringing back a tradition that was once banned, following the Battle of Culloden in 1746.  She dressed all her sons in kilts regularly. Prince  Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, was the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.  On August 2, 1869, this Duke of Edinburgh (called Affie by his parents) arrived in Honolulu.  The kilted Duke was feted by King Kamehameha V, the future Queen Liliuokalani, and the Queen Dowager Emma, with whom Prince Affie danced at a magnificent ball held in the original Iolani Palace.  The tartan-clad prince was so popular, the city’s leaders named one of Honolulu’s streets for him – Edinburg Street, which was the block of Bishop Street between Queen Street and Ala Moana Boulevard. Of course, Beretania (the Hawaiian word for Britannia) was already taken, for it was the road leading to the British Consul, and the community where Brits lived.  The area where the British consulate stood in 1843 is now Washington Place, the historic home of Queen Liliuokalani.  Before coming to the throne, Princess Lililuokalani along with Queen Kapiolani, attended Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in London in 1887. The Hawaiian Royal family was one of Queen Victoria’s greatest admirers.   Affie started a wave of Brito-mania that endured for decades.

With the rise of kilts, so to speak, Victorian clan chiefs adopted tartans for their respective clans.  Later, individuals, organizations, and governments followed suit. There is even an official tartan for the State of Hawaii. British motifs have been popular in Hawaii for over two centuries – recall that the Union Jack of the British Empire is represented on the Hawaiian flag.

Members of The Saint Andrew’s Society of Hawaii, The Caledonian Society of Hawaii, Hawaiian Scottish Association, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and tartan-proud members of the Celtic community gathered at the Hawaii State Capitol to celebrate Tartan Day on April 6. The capitol is across the street from Washington Place, home to the original British community in Honolulu, and location for the formal dinner given to HM The Queen Elizabeth II on her Hawaiian visit.  Although most people associate tartans with Scotland, they are popular in multiple Celtic nations.  Dr. Nancy Smiley, MD, brought a variety of Celtic flags to the Capitol, which were gallantly flown, all day long, to celebrate Tartan Day.

Some of the tartan enthusiasts posed in front of the Father Damien statue, honoring the Catholic priest who gave his life helping Hawaiians afflicted by Hansen’s Disease (leprosy).  The victims suffered the humiliation and injustice of being banished to Kalaupapa, on the island of Molokai, beginning in 1866.  Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson was a friend and guest to King David Kalakaua and Princess Victoria Kaiulani (heiress to the Hawaiian throne). The princess’ father was Archibald Cleghorn, a wealthy Scottish financier who married the king’s sister, Princess Likelike.  Robert Louis Stevenson was the Stephen King or J. K. Rowling of his era, and he took a keen interest in Hawaii and her people. He traveled to Molokai for eight days and seven nights in 1889 to research the work of Father Damien, after which he published a scathing 6,000 word polemic attacking the way these patients were discarded like human garbage. Stevenson targeted Rev. Dr. Charles McEwan Hyde, a Congregationalist “Christian” who placed great importance on fashion and how he looked in public, but was rather hateful toward the Catholic Priest Damien, and, by consequence, Damien’s passionate devotion to the leprosy victims.  At one point, Stevenson said he wanted to stab the good Reverend Hyde to death.  A blood-soaked white shirt wouldn’t look so fabulous on the dapper Reverend Hyde, you know. The Scottish rebuke from Stevenson became the most famous account of Father Damien, featuring the future saint in the role of a European aiding a benighted and maltreated native people.

The famed Father Damien statue was unveiled at the Capitol Rotunda, almost exactly 50 years ago, on April 15, 1969. Damien’s story, as told by Stevenson, is an attestation to fiery Scottish tempers – a people who are resolute in standing against injustice, just like they did at Arbroath in 1320.  And the statue is as hard as a hard-headed Scot  – constructed from bronze. Bronze is generally harder than wrought iron.   Not many craftsmen are able to produce works like this anymore. This piece was cast at a foundry in Viareggio, Italy, an area famous for creating sculptures, dating way back to 1541.

Marco Airaghi, who recently flew to Hawaii from Northern Italy, participated in the Tartan Day gathering. “The general area of Switzerland/Italian Alps/Austria is now accepted by anthropologists as being the aboriginal home of the Celtic peoples,” Airaghi said. “I’m a citizen of Italy, but Celtic passion runs deep in my soul, and these Hawaiian Celts are so much fun!  They exhibit a lot of integrity, they work very hard, and they are highly compassionate. I like that.”

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