For Immediate Release | Official News Wire for the Travel Industry

Where press releases are breaking news

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

by

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

Travel News | eTurboNews

Disney Cruise Line and Captain Minnie Mouse inspire future female ship captains

by

With a collection of new initiatives, Disney Cruise Line is aiming to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the maritime industry. The debut of Captain Minnie Mouse, new youth programs and the funding of scholarships are designed to empower girls and young women to pursue careers in the cruise industry and chart a course for success.

Inspiring Youth through the Magic of Captain Minnie Mouse

Disney characters delight and inspire children around the globe, and Disney Cruise Line is counting on the power of the mouse – Minnie Mouse – to spread the message of exploring new horizons, both by land and by sea.

Captain Minnie Mouse, in her crisp new uniform with smart white trousers or skirt and a bold red jacket emblazoned with captain’s insignia, will make the rounds on all Disney ships starting in April.

Empowering Women through Maritime Scholarships

In 2019, Disney Cruise Line will sponsor four scholarships at the LJM Maritime Academy in The Bahamas for female cadets who aspire to be ship captains and shipboard leaders. The scholarships, one for each of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, will include tuition to the three-year program. The scholarships will include two years of study at the academy and one year of service aboard a Disney ship.

“Our Disney characters have a unique ability to inspire and connect with children, and we know Captain Minnie will encourage young girls around the world to consider a career in the maritime industry,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line. “We are excited to work with LJM Maritime Academy to offer scholarships for young women who are pursuing their passions and following their dreams in our industry.”

Nautical Fun for Children at Sea

Onboard Disney Cruise Line ships later this year, Captain Minnie Mouse will appear in an all-new youth activity where young captain hopefuls practice STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills in a fun maritime-themed activity. Children will hone their STEM and problem-solving abilities – skills that play an important role in the maritime industry – in a series of engaging, hands-on activities.

The interactive experience will be a journey of discovery, exploration and imagination that will be offered in Disney’s Oceaneer Lab aboard all Disney ships.

Why Knot – Taking Nautical Fun Ashore

As part of a commitment to encourage future generations to pursue careers in the maritime industry, Captain Minnie Mouse will visit children in some of Disney Cruise Line’s homeports and ports of call.

Children will have an opportunity to meet Captain Minnie Mouse and be inspired by her “can do” qualities and ability to tackle any goal she sets her mind to.

As part of these local community visits, Captain Minnie Mouse will be accompanied by a female Disney Cruise Line officer or crew member to showcase their roles in the maritime industry and raise awareness about career choices for women aboard a cruise ship.

Travel News | eTurboNews

XS, S, M, L or XL: What is your ideal river ship size?

by

All those with the hearts of wanderers will appreciate the appeal of a river cruise; an experience rich in culture, made possible by ability to disembark and re-embark at leisure, an option not available on sea-faring cruises. These cruises are made even more popular because most are all-inclusive voyages, offering countless amenities.

River cruise ships range from very private eight-person barges all the way up through very large (for a river cruise) ship with more than 400 passengers. Vacationers need only choose the ship size that best reflects the river cruise experience they desire.

Cruise experts have categorized all the river ships, by size:

Extra Small: 8-74 Passengers

• AmaWaterways – MS Zambezi Queen
• Avalon Waterways – Avalon Myanmar, Avalon Saigon, Avalon Siem Reap
• Scenic – Scenic Aura, Scenic Spirit
• Viking River Cruises – Viking Mekong, Viking Mandalay, Viking Orient, Viking Ra
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection – Ganges Voyager II, River Orchid

Small: 75-149 Passengers

• AmaWaterways – MS AmaVida, MS AmaCello, MS AmaDolce, AmaDouro, MS AmaLyra, AmaDara
• American Cruise Line – American Star, American Spirit, Independence, Queen of the West, Queen of the Mississippi
• Avalon Waterways – Avalon Artistry II, Avalon Poetry II, Avalon Visionary, Avalon Felicity, Avalon Luminary, Avalon Affinity, Avalon Creativity, Avalon Imagery II, Avalon Tapestry II, Avalon Tranquility II
• Emerald Waterways – Emerald Liberte, Emerald Radiance
• Scenic – Scenic Azure, Scenic Tsar, Scenic Gem, Scenic Diamond
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection – Queen Isabel, River Ambassador, River Baroness, River Queen, River Countess, River Duchess, River Empress, River Princess, Bon Voyage, Joie de Vivre, River Tosca
• Viking River Cruises – Viking Astrild, Viking Beyla, Viking Fontane, Viking Helgrim, Viking Hemming, Viking Osfrid, Viking Schumann, Viking Torgil

Medium: 150-224 Passengers

• AmaWaterways – MS AmaBella, MS AmaVerde, MS AmaCerto, MS AmaPrima, MS AmaReina, MS AmaSonata, MS AmaSerena, AmaSiena AmaManga, AmaMora, AmaLea, AmaKristina, AmaStella, AmaViola, AmaVenita
• American Cruise Line – America, American Constellation, American Constitution, American Harmony, American Pride, American Song
• American Queen Steamboat Company – American Duchess, American Empress
• Avalon Waterways – Avalon Expression, Avalon Illumination, Avalon Impression, Avalon Passion, Avalon Panorama, Avalon Vista, Avalon Envision, Avalon View
• Emerald Waterways – Emerald Dawn, Emerald Destiny, Emerald Sky, Emerald Star, Emerald Sun
• Imperial River Cruises – Tikhi Don, Chekhov, Excellence Katharina, Rachmaninoff, Volga Star
• Scenic – Scenic Sapphire, Scenic Ruby, Scenic Crystal, Scenic Amber, Scenic Jade, Scenic Jasper, Scenic Jewel, Scenic Opal, Scenic Pearl
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection – SS Antoinette, River Beatrice, S.S. Catherine, Maria Theresa, River Victoria
• Viking River Cruises – Viking Aegir, Viking Akun, Viking Alruna, Viking Alsvin, Viking Alta, Viking Baldur, Viking Bestla, Viking Bragi, Viking Burl, Viking Delling, Viking Egil, Viking Einar, Viking Eir, Viking Eistla, Viking Embla, Viking Forseti, Viking Freya, Viking Gefjon, Viking Gullveig, Viking Heimdal, Viking Helgi, Viking Herja, Viking Hermod, Viking Hild, Viking Hlin, Viking Idi, Viking Idun, Viking Ingvar, Viking Ingvi, Viking Jarl, Viking Kadlin, Viking Kara, Viking Kvasir, Viking Legend, Viking Lif, Viking Lofn, Viking Magni, Viking Mani, Viking Mimir, Viking Modi, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, Viking Prestige, Viking Rinda, Viking Rolf, Viking Rurik, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, Viking Sineus, Viking Skadi, Viking Skirnir, Viking Tialfi, Viking Tir, Viking Tor, Viking Truvor, Viking Ullur, Viking Vali, Viking Var, Viking Vidar, Viking Vilhjalm, Viking Vili

Large: 225-299

• Imperial River Cruises – m/s Dnieper Princess, Ivan Bunin, Tchaikovsky
• Viking River Cruises – Viking Emerald

Extra Large: 300+

• American Queen Steamboat Company – American Queen

Travel News | eTurboNews

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

by

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.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Genting Cruise Lines welcomes Explorer Dream to its fleet

by

Genting Cruise Lines welcomed the third member of its Dream Cruises’ fleet with the christening and inaugural homeport deployment of Explorer Dream in Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. Explorer Dream is the first newly-launched cruise ship of the post-recalibration period in the Chinese cruise industry and her arrival also marks Dream Cruises’ debut in Eastern China, with the cruise liner purposely-built and recently renovated for the Asian and Chinese luxury market. Leveraging on the deployment of Explorer Dream, Dream Cruises’ first 200,000-tonne Global Class ship, set to debut in 2021, will also celebrate her inaugural deployment in Shanghai as the largest cruise ship to homeport in the Asia-Pacific.

Honorable guests Mr. Su Ping, Vice Magistrate of Shanghai Baoshan District Government and Mr. Hui Lim, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Genting Hong Kong were joined by management executives and over 500 guests at the ceremonial launch event. The christening ceremony featured Ms. Grace Chen, the godmother of Explorer Dream and one of the most influential fashion innovators in China. The innovative christening was activated by her magic wand of dreams and aspirations and the spirit of exploration was symbolised by a majestic unicorn that led the iconic Dream Cruises’ mermaid out of the ocean and into a new realm, where she will embark on the quest to discover new horizons across the seas. With the traditional breaking of the champagne bottle against the bow of the ship, Explorer Dream officially begins her journey with Dream Cruises.

“Dream Cruises is the most recognized cruise brand in Southern China due to World Dream being positioned in the dual homeports of Guangzhou and Hong Kong. However, as we all know, the Eastern and North Chinese market is five times larger than the south and Dream Cruises will be building two 204,000 gross ton “Global Class” ships to be launched starting early 2021 in Shanghai and Tianjin to accommodate this market. These two ships, being built in our own shipyards Germany, are also designed to be the most advanced and intelligent cruise ships ever to be constructed,” said Mr. Hui Lim, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Genting Hong Kong. said, “In order to prepare the foundations and increase Dream Cruises’ brand awareness in East and North China, we are pleased today to welcome “Explorer Dream” in Shanghai as the third ship in our Dream Cruises fleet.”

Explorer Dream is the second cruise ship of Genting Cruise Lines to homeport in Shanghai, made possible by the tremendous support of the Shanghai Baoshan District Government. Mr. Su Ping, Vice Magistrate of Shanghai Baoshan District Government said, “In July 2017, Genting Cruise Lines launched the Golden Sea Route 7-night itinerary in Shanghai, which garnered the Best Itinerary Award during the Shanghai Cruise Tourism Festival. In October 2018, a strategic Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Baoshan District Government and Genting Cruise Lines to forge a new partnership. Now, the inaugural arrival of Explorer Dream, the newest member of Dream Cruises in Shanghai, will bring forth distinctive and premium cruise travel products to propel the optimal development of the cruise industry in China.”

After the inaugural ceremony, Grace Chen presented a spectacular fashion show at sea aboard the ship. Eighteen models showcased her Voyage collection and walked the runway on the Palace Pool Deck, where guests enjoyed a visual feast inspired by the spirit of exploration and discovery, both of which are the brand essence of Dream Cruises.

Since its launch two years ago, Dream Cruises has garnered numerous accolades for its two cruise ships, Genting Dream which debuted in 2016 and World Dream in 2017, including Star Performer Top Ten Ratings in the Large Resort Category, “Most Popular Family Cruise Brand in China 2018” by Global Times, Top 5 Cruise Lines in the Large/Medium sized cruise ship category by Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List and more.

Built with German craftsmanship, Explorer Dream measures 268 meters in length and 32 meters in width. She has a total gross tonnage of 75,338 tons, 928 cabins and lower berth capacity of 1,856 passengers. The signature, luxury “ship within a ship” enclave of Dream Cruises – The Palace, provides an unprecedented “True Asian Luxury” experience to discerning travelers in China and Asia, boasting an industry leading staff to guest ratio, a majority of its suites at over 40 square meters, as well as Proprietary Butler Training endorsed by affiliated company Crystal Cruises – The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line.

A generous variety of culinary options will also be available to cater for every taste – from inspired Asian flavours to exquisite Western delicacies. Acclaimed Australian Chef Mark Best will extend his influence on to Explorer Dream with his Seafood Grill by Mark Best serving up the ocean’s bounty in a spectacular al fresco setting. Signature Dream dining favorites will also take pride of place on the new ship including Umi Uma for Japanese delights, Silk Road for traditional Chinese fare, Blue Lagoon for Southeast Asian comfort food and Palm Court for informal refreshments and breath-taking views. For adventurous foodies, the all new Mozzarella Ristorante e Pizzeria will tantalize with a modern fusion of classic Italian dishes and pizzas with a Japanese twist.

Guests of Explorer Dream can also enjoy thematic programs on their journeys at sea including “The Connoisseurs Circle” bespoke enrichment program, featuring inspirational talks and events that are especially curated for guests of The Palace, such as a fashion talk by Grace Chen, the godmother of Explorer Dream.

As the fastest cruise ship in Asia, Explorer Dream offers a great variety of itineraries and flexibility. Sailings from Shanghai homeport will take guests on cruises to popular destinations in Japan that range from 3-night to 6-night itineraries, such as the 3-night cruises to Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe, or the 2-night round-trip cruise to Okinawa. In the month of April, when cherry blossoms in Japan are in bloom, guests can enjoy the dazzling floral display on shore, complemented by authentic Japanese experiences on the cruise, such as specialty dishes featuring Japanese Wagyu beef and pork, tuna cutting performances, Yukata trials, poolside festivals and more.

Starting from 1 July, Explorer Dream will begin her homeport deployment in Tianjin with more summer cruise options for family travelers, who will enjoy the renowned stage productions of Kaixin Mahua at sea. Taking the first step to evolve Dream Cruises into “Asia’s Global Cruise Line” by sailing outside Asian waters, in October 2019, Explorer Dream will homeport in Sydney and Auckland where she will embark on a variety of seven-night weekly itineraries to “Down Under” destinations.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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

by

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.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Celebrity Cruises orders fifth Edge-Class cruise ship

by

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.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Viking and China Merchants Group to build cruise line for Chinese cruise market

by

Viking Cruises and China Merchants Shekou, representing China Merchants Group, announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture focused on building a cruise line with worldwide cruise offerings for the Chinese cruise market.

This will be a wide-ranging partnership covering from product development to sales and marketing. Further, China Merchants Group’s shipbuilding subsidiaries will partner with the joint venture to design and build new ocean cruise ships dedicated to the Chinese market.

“China is a dynamic outbound tourism market, and we are pleased to be partnering with China Merchants Group in this joint venture to drive the development of the cruise industry – we see Viking’s way of cruising less as a trip and more as a lifestyle,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “For more than 20 years, we have led the industry in developing a fleet of ships and a range of cruise itineraries that we believe provide guests with the most comfortable and enriching way to explore the world. Our partnership with China Merchants Group will allow us to bring this Viking travel lifestyle to more Chinese travelers more quickly, satisfying the Chinese market’s unmet demand for a greater choice of sophisticated travel.”

“China Merchants Group treasures this cooperation with Viking. This is a full scale, multi-dimensional cooperation that covers all three main business sectors of China Merchants group,” said Gangfeng Fu, president of China Merchants Group. “Viking has gained tremendous experience in cruise operations and branding strategies during its 20 years of rapid growth. We sincerely hope that the alliance of the two powerful brands will create synergies and innovative business models that will lead the cooperation into a market-leading cruise brand.

Viking operates a current fleet of 78 vessels, offering scenic cruising on rivers and oceans around the world. China has been a part of Viking’s destination portfolio since 2003, and since setting up local operations in China in 2016, the company has seen strong momentum in its European river cruise product tailored for Chinese-speaking guests.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Reunion Island breaks tourist arrivals record

by

Despite a difficult end to the year, 2018 was profitable and even historic for Reunion tourism as more than 574,000 outside visitors were welcomed . This is 4.1% more than in fiscal 2017, which had already had an unprecedented inflow of visitors.

In 2018, 35 ships and 39,433 cruise passengers landed on the island, which was satisfactory, although slightly lower as several companies were forced to review their routes in November and December.

Nevertheless, with revenues still increasing and amounting to more than 432 million euros, also a new record for the destination, the tourism sector confirms its preponderant place in the economy of Reunion.

Reunion’s neighbors in the Indian Ocean remain fond of the destination. Arrivals from the Indian Ocean area remains above 60,000 tourists in 2018, after a spectacular increase of 46% recorded in 2017. Within this Indian Ocean zone, Mauritius remains the main source market since it represents more than 30,000 tourists, or 5.8% of total arrivals to Reunion.

The communication and promotion actions carried out on the main European markets, other than France, have also been fruitful, as this visitor source market now accounts for 7.4% of total arrivals, compared to 6% in 2017. In total, 39,664 visitors came from the rest of Europe in 2018 which is 4.2% more than last year!

Unsurprisingly, the leisure clientele represents an overwhelming majority of arriving visitors with 90.8% of the overall volume of arrivals on the island, supplemented by 8.5% of business tourism.

The average length of stay of these foreign tourists is 17 days and remains unchanged compared to 2017, a figure particularly important for a long-haul destination such as Reunion.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Number of Hawaii visitors up but spending down

by

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.39 billion in February 2019, a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to February 20181, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. This is another dip following the 3.8 decrease in January.

In February, visitor spending increased from the U.S. West (+4.7% to $503.3 million) but declined from U.S. East (-6.7% to $370.9 million), Japan (-0.8% to $170.1 million), Canada (-0.7% to $150.7 million) and All Other International Markets (-15.3% to $188.7 million) compared to a year ago.

On a statewide level, average daily visitor spending was down slightly (-0.9% to $200 per person) in February year-over-year. Visitors from Japan (+3.3%), U.S. West (+1.2%) and All Other International Markets (+0.7%) spent more per day while visitors from U.S. East (-4.1%) and Canada (-1.0%) spent less.

A total of 782,584 visitors (+0.5%) came to Hawaii in February 2019, up slightly from the same month last year. Arrivals by air service (+0.3% to 766,293) were comparable to last February while arrivals by cruise ships (+12.1% to 16,291) increased. However, total visitor days2 declined (-1.9%) versus February 2018 due to a shorter average length of stay by visitors from most markets.

The average daily census3 of total visitors in the Hawaiian Islands on any given day in February was 248,244, down 1.9 percent compared to February last year. Arrivals by air service realized growth from U.S. West (+6.5%), Canada (+2.5%) and Japan (+1.1%) which offset decreases from U.S. East (-0.9%) and All Other International Markets (-17.2%).

Visitor spending on Oahu decreased (-1.6% to $613.0 million) while visitor arrivals (456,820) were flat compared to last February. Maui recorded increases in both visitor spending (+1.2% to $413.0 million) and visitor arrivals (+1.5% to 220,801). The island of Hawaii saw declines in visitor spending (-17.5% to $192.3 million) and visitor arrivals (-14.8% to 137,502). Visitor spending increased on Kauai (+4.7% to $153.5 million) while visitor arrivals were similar (+0.2% to 104,167) to February 2018.

A total of 1,010,961 trans-Pacific air seats serviced the Hawaiian Islands in February, up slightly (+0.5%) from a year ago. Growth in air seats from Canada (+10.9%), Japan (+6.3%), Oceania (+1.8%), U.S. West (+0.5%) and U.S. East (+0.5%) offset declines from Other Asia Markets (-25.1%).

Year-to-Date 2019

Through the first two months of 2019, visitor spending declined (-2.4% to $3.01 billion) compared to the same period last year. Visitor arrivals increased (+1.8% to 1,603,205) but a shorter length of stay (-1.8% to 9.43 days) resulted in no growth in visitor days. Average daily spending (-2.4% to $199 per person) was lower compared to a year ago.

Visitor spending decreased from U.S. West (-0.8% to $1.06 billion), U.S. East (-1.8% to $832.5 million), Japan (-3.8% to $349.6 million), Canada (-0.4% to $318.3 million) and All Other International markets (-7.5% to $443.2 million).

Visitor arrivals increased from U.S. West (+5.5% to 631,064), U.S. East (+0.7% to 356,943), Japan (+3.3% to 251,488) and Canada (+0.7% to 133,915), but declined from All Other International Markets (-7.9% to 201,981).

Other Highlights:

U.S. West: Visitor arrivals from the Pacific region rose 7.6 percent in February compared to the previous year, with more visitors from Alaska (+13.7%), California (+8.4%), Washington (+6.7%) and Oregon (+2.9%). Arrivals from the Mountain region were up 3.2 percent in February with growth from Arizona (+9.5%) and Nevada (+8.5%), offsetting declines from Utah (-5.7%) and Colorado (-1.3%). Through the first two months, arrivals from the Pacific (+7.4%) and Mountain (+1.8%) regions increased versus the same period last year.

Through February 2019, average daily visitor spending dropped to $182 per person (-2.4%) compared to the same period last year, largely due to decreases in transportation and food and beverage expenses.

U.S. East: Growth in February visitor arrivals from the East South Central (+1.6%) and East North Central (+0.6%) regions were offset by decreases from the West South Central (-4.1%), South Atlantic (-4.0%), New England (-2.4%) and Mid Atlantic (-0.7%) regions compared to a year ago. For the first two months of 2019, arrivals were up from the East South Central (+7.2%), West North Central (+2.6%) and South Atlantic (+0.7%) regions.

For the first two months of 2019, average daily visitor spending declined to $214 per person (-1.4%), largely due to a decline in transportation expenses.

Japan: In February, more visitors stayed in hotels (+5.2%) while stays in condominiums (-16.1%) and timeshares (-7.6%) decreased compared to a year ago.

For the first two months of 2019, average daily visitor spending declined to $238 per person (-4.4%), primarily due to lower lodging and transportation expenses.

Canada: In February, less visitors stayed in condominiums (-7.3%) and hotels (-1.6%). Stays in rental homes (+23.7%) and timeshares (+4.4%) increased from a year ago.

For the first two months of 2019, average daily visitor spending decreased (–0.7% to $177 per person) compared to the same period last year, due to lower shopping as well as entertainment and recreation expenses.

MCI: A total of 57,043 visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands for meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) in February, an increase of 10.4 percent from last year. More visitors came to attend conventions (+18.6%) and corporate meetings (+2.2%) but fewer traveled on incentive trips (-1.0%). Contributing to the growth in convention visitors was the 2019 International Stroke Conference, held at the Hawaii Convention Center, which brought nearly 6,000 delegates. Through the first two months, total MCI visitors grew (+10.5% to 116,310) compared to the same period last year.

Travel News | eTurboNews