Travelbeat Cruise News Update: September 02, 2010 [1 Story] England Her Majesty The Queen To Name Queen Elizabeth Cunard Line has confirmed that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company's new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton on Monday, October 11, 2010. The naming will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest. Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, said ... "The naming of a Cunard Quen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word. "The Queen launched Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship, Queen Mary 2, in 2004. "We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner Queen Elizabeth." Her Majesty was also present at the age of 12 at the launch of the first Queen Elizabeth on September 27, 1938 when she accompanied her mother, Queen Elizabeth, to Clydebank for the launch. The Naming Ceremony will take place in Southampton on October 11 and the ship will set sail on her maiden voyage the following day. Queen Elizabeth will make her maiden visit to Australia in February during her inaugural world voyage. She will call at Sydney on February 22-23 where she will stage a Royal Rendezvous with Queen Mary 2, followed by visits to Melbourne on February 25 and Fremantle on March 1. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 28, 2010 [2 Stories] USA Royal Caribbean's 2009 Stewardship Report Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has made available its second annual Stewardship Report, which highlights the company's industry-leading safety, security, medical/public health and environmental efforts. The 2009 Stewardship Report provides insight into Royal Caribbean's strategy in the areas of energy and air emissions, water and wastewater, waste and chemical management, community involvement and conservation, destinations and education. The report also reviews how the Above and Beyond Compliance philosophy, which guides the company's environmental stewardship programme, also influences all areas of the company, including safety and security, as well as medical and public health. "Our goal with the 2009 Stewardship Report was to build upon last year's inaugural report by enhancing its environmental stewardship content and significantly augmenting the safety, security and medical/public health information," said Gary Bald, senior vice president of Safety, Security, Environment and Medical/Public Health for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Within the report, readers can learn about our emphasis on incident prevention, increasing focus on destination stewardship and conservation, partnerships with medical centers of excellence around the world and our newest safety innovations and progressive security measures," Bald said. (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd) Australia Jean de la Valette Delivered To Virtu Ferries Mediterranean based operator Virtu Ferries recently took delivery of the 107 metre vehicle-passenger catamaran, Jean de la Vallete. The vessel marks a significant milestone for Austal being the largest catamaran built by Austal in Australia and its 24th commercial delivery to the Mediterranean region. The vessel will operate between Malta and Italy, and is designed to carry 800 passengers and 156 cars (or 45 cars and 342 truck lane metres) at an operational speed of up to 40 knots. Jean de la Valette will join Virtu Ferries’ existing 68 metre vehicle-passenger ferry Maria Dolores which was delivered by Austal in 2006. A barbecue jointly hosted by Virtu Fast Ferries Ltd Managing Director Francis Portelli and Austal’s Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Bellamy was held after the handover to recognise the efforts and craftsmanship achieved by Austal’s workforce. Francis Portelli said the company had a long standing relationship with Austal and found the quality of the build outstanding. “Austal has delivered a great vessel in every way, and we are excited to bring Jean de la Valette into service. It has been a pleasure working with Austal throughout the build process and we are very proud to take ownership of such a high quality vessel.” (Austal) Update: August 27, 2010 [1 Story] USA Cruise Ports Invest In Improvements Several cruise ports in the U.S., including Norfolk, Virginia's Half Moon cruise terminal and the Port of Los Angeles, are investing millions on major improvements. But the ports will host the fewest number of cruise ships and passengers in years. The ports are striving to become players in the massive cruise industry, while foreign ports are emerging as magnets for cruise lines. (Travel Weekly) Update: August 26, 2010 [1 Story] U.S. Virgin Islands St. Thomas Launches Crime-fighting Strategy A gunfight on St. Thomas killed a teenage cruise passenger in mid-July, prompting a multiagency effort to clean up Coki Point Beach and launch a long-term strategy to fight crime. The beach, and the adjacent Coral World Marine Park, are near where the shots were fired. The victim was on an open-air safari bus heading to Coki with her family and other tourists when the gang-related incident took place. Four cruise lines immediately suspended their shore excursions to the beach and park until the lines could ensure the safety of their passengers. The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, along with several government agencies, the police and representatives of the private sector, immediately launched initiatives and measures to address the rising tide of gang-related violence that had spilled over to the tourism sector. "The cleanup of Coki is just one part of a broad programme now in place to address visitor and community concerns," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, commissioner of tourism for St. Thomas. (American Society of Travel Agents) Update: August 25, 2010 [2 Stories] Australia Important Notice Regarding Pandaw India A number of passengers have contacted ATI recently having received offers from a company called ‘Pandaw India’ offering cruises on the Ganges starting September 2010. ATI wish to make it clear that they are in no way connected with this company. The ship, the old Pandaw IV since renamed the Bengal Pandaw, is not owned or managed by Pandaw Cruises. Last winter Pandaw Cruises invested in setting up a river cruise operation in India and sent the Pandaw IV from Burma. Soon after the vessel’s arrival the partner, a Mr Raj Singh, through his company called Pandaw India, seized control of the ship. Currently Pandaw Cruises are suing Pandaw India in the Indian courts for either payment for the ship or its return to the rightful owners. Meanwhile a court injunction will stop Pandaw India from operating the vessel next season. Note this litigation does not in any way affect Pandaw operations in other countries where all is running to the usual high standards. Plans to increase vessel capacity for the Mekong and other new river destinations in Asia have not in the slightest way been set back. Finally, ATI advises that the Pandaw name is trade marked in the United States, India and most other countries. Any entity violating the rights to the Pandaw name will be vigorously prosecuted by Pandaw attorneys. This would include any individual or corporation marketing the Pandaw India or Bengal Pandaw names. (Aviation & Travel International) USA Brownsville Aims To Become Port For Cruise Ships City officials have commissioned a study to find out whether Brownsville, Texas, could become the next port for cruise ships. While officials say preliminary results are positive, some travel agents specializing in cruises say the town is too far from major airports to warrant a home port or even a pit stop. Meanwhile, a report for the Cruise Lines International Association shows that the 2009 gross output for North American cruise lines decreased by 12% compared with last year. The study also reported that while 13.4-million people cruised on CLIA member lines last year, a 4.8% increase, total gross revenue declined by 11.4% as cruise lines responded to the recession by lowering ticket prices. (American Society of Travel Agents) Update: August 24, 2010 [1 Story] Hong Kong Consultants Get A Bird's Eye View Of New Facilities A group of leading cruise consultants have inspected Hong Kong's expanding cruise facilities firsthand with a visit to the region following this year's International Cruise Council Australasia's Masters Conference in China. Hosted by ICCA Associate Member, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Holiday Inn Golden Mile, the agents were given an extensive tour of Hong Kong's existing cruise facilities and a detailed presentation on the destination's future cruise plans. The briefing included a visit to the peak of Mount Victoria for a bird's eye view of the future Hong Kong Cruise facility, which is under construction on the former Kai Tak airport site and slated to open in 2013. ICCA General Manager Brett Jardine said the tour provided a valuable insight into a key port in Asia, one of the strongest cruise destinations from Australia and New Zealand. "With Hong Kong making such a significant investment in its cruise future, this was a fantastic opportunity for some of our top cruise agents to get a firsthand understanding of the region's offerings," Mr Jardine said. Hong Kong Tourism Board Regional Director Andrew Clark said he was pleased to be able to host the group of 24 agents following the ICCA Masters Conference on the Yangtze River. "It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Hong Kong as a destination, as well as its exciting plans for the new cruise terminal, to such an influential group. We anticipate that the new facilities will attract new cruise lines with itineraries that will appeal to Australians, already a major market for the Hong Kong cruising sector," Mr Clark said. Pictured: ICCA Masters delegates at Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal check-in. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 22, 2010 [1 Story] Italy Seabourn Quest Hull Arrives At T. Mariotti The steel hull of Seabourn Quest, last of a trio of luxury cruise ships ordered by The Yachts of Seabourn from T. Mariotti, arrived in Genoa last week after being floated around the peninsula from the company’s fabrication yard at San Giorgio di Nogaro on the Adriatic coast. Mariotti, which faces space restrictions at its Genoa base, began working at the yard in the Friuli region after winning the €550-million contract from the Carnival Corp. & plc-owned cruise line 4-years ago. As with Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn that preceded it, the company built the hull and the superstructure of Seabourn Quest up to Deck 12 at San Giorgio di Nogara. Additional work was performed at a floating dock in Rijeka before the vessel left for its voyage around the Italian coast. The 7,500-tonne hull, 198m long and 26m wide, took 9-days to reach Genoa, where the aluminium superstructure, including masts and funnels, and the internal areas will be completed. Seabourn Quest is due for delivery in May. (The Yachts of Seabourn) Update: August 19, 2010 [1 Story] Australia POLAR Online Makes Learning Fun & Earning Easy Complete Cruise Solution has launched a comprehensive new training programme for its online booking engine, POLAR Online, designed to show travel consultants how to manage their cruise bookings more easily online. To mark the new programme, Complete Cruise Solution is giving Australasian agents the chance to win one of 14 $100 Westfield gift cards in a new 'Learn and Earn' promotion to encourage the trade to jump online. Consultants simply need to watch or read the new tutorials and complete seven quizzes, which will be released fortnightly until the competition closes on November 9. POLAR Online already allows travel agents to make simple booking changes online, from amending passenger details to changing cabin numbers and extending deposit dates. From December 1, more than 10 simple booking amendments will be made exclusively online. To ensure all agents are comfortable with the processes, Complete Cruise Solution has put together a series of 21 training guides on POLAR, in document or video tutorial form, with each targeting specific actions and showing consultants in a couple of minutes exactly how to use POLAR to make their changes. Complete Cruise Solution Director of Sales Don Clark said the changes would mean travel agents would be able to manage their bookings when it suited them. POLAR Online is available through www.completecruisesolution.com.au. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 18, 2010 [3 Stories] Australia ICCA's Masters Consultants Learn & Cruise Viking Style Almost 50 travel consultants from across Australia and New Zealand have expanded their understanding of the cruise industry and sharpened their sales and marketing skills after taking part in the International Cruise Council Australasia's 2010 Masters Conference in China this month. Hosted by Viking River Cruises, the consultants spent 2-nights in Shanghai followed by 5-nights cruising along the Yangtze River, discovering the wonders of the Chinese culture while working under the guidance of the ICCA's inspirational Masters Trainer, US-based Scott Koepf. ICCA General Manager Brett Jardine proclaimed the conference a resounding success, drawing a wide range of travel agents including some previous Masters Conference attendees who returned to sharpen their skills. "Gaining Masters accreditation is a significant achievement and comes at a valuable time given the level of enthusiasm that exists amongst consumers for cruising," Mr Jardine said. Travel Impressions' Paul Barnett completed his Masters in 2001 but said returning for a repeat experience at the 2010 conference had proved invaluable. "This was a totally different and new learning experience for me so I can't stress the value of taking part in the Masters conference again," Mr Barnett. Consultants will now complete a post-conference work-based case study to gain their ICCA Masters accreditation. (MG Media Communications) Vanuatu P&O Cruises Helps Make Island Life A Breeze Cruise passengers have another great reason to visit Vanuatu's Mystery Island thanks to a helping hand from P&O Cruises with the funding of a much-needed 40-seat tender boat, aptly christened Island Breeze. The introduction of Island Breeze will allow local people to transport passengers from Mystery Island to neighbouring Aneityum for shore tours newly established by the community. Four members of the local community have been trained to operate the vessel under the personal supervision of Mark Gooderham, the CEO of the Maritime College of Vanuatu. The purchase of Island Breeze is one of multiple initiatives across the South Pacific as a result of P&O Cruises' partnership with Ausaid's Enterprise Challenge Fund, contributing funds to a programme to assist in building an economic base for South Pacific communities, upgrading cruise facilities and better managing the environment. Community elders have praised the Island Breeze initiative, which they see as one way of increasing opportunities available to motivate young people to stay in their own communities. Jenny Lourey, Senior Vice President of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said Mystery Island was a template for what P&O Cruises is trying to develop at other locations across the South Pacific and a symbol of the cruise line's ongoing commitment to the area. "The aim of this programme is to provide an economic foundation for local communities as well as to upgrade jetties and other amenities. Initiatives such as the boat and the development of shore tours that feature the local culture are ways of achieving this," said Ms Lourey. Pictured: Locals disembark from their new tender boat Island Breeze during a crew training session. (MG Media Communications) Australia Contract Signed for Pacific Pearl Drydock P&O Cruises' expansion has taken another step with the official signing of the contract for the multi-million dollar refurbishment of its latest ship Pacific Pearl in Singapore. Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, joined senior representatives from Sembawang Shipyard in Sydney last week for the signing, with work to commence on November 13. Sembawang Shipyard is a subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine Ltd. The major refurbishment will include the addition of Pacific Pearl's "Big Screen" on its pool deck, the creation of a new Salt Grill by Luke Mangan, new bars and lounges and the creation of a new Aqua HealthSpaFitness. Following the 3-week drydock, Pacific Pearl will make her way to Auckland for her official naming on December 21, 2010. Pacific Pearl will make her maiden visit to Sydney on February 3, 2011 when she commences her first Australian season. Joining Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Sun, Pacific Pearl's debut will take P&O Cruises' fleet to four ships. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 16, 2010 [1 Story] Germany Meyer Werft Scores 7th Newbuild For AIDA Carnival Corp. & plc has ordered a 71,300gt ship for the AIDA Cruises brand from Meyer Werft, marking the 7th newbuild for the German operator placed in the past 6-years. The 2,192-berth vessel, ordered at an approximate all-in cost of €150,000 per lower berth or €329-million, is scheduled to enter service in spring 2013. "With growth that is outpacing other regions of the world, expanding our European brands continues to be a priority for us," said Carnival chairman and ceo Micky Arison. "This new AIDA ship will build upon the brand's leadership position in the fast-growing German-speaking market, while offering a unique on-board experience preferred by its clientele." The vessel will join AIDAsol, set to debut in April 2011, and an unnamed sister ship in June 2012. By 2013, a total of 10 AIDA 'club' ships will be in service, operating voyages to the Mediterranean, the Canaries, the North Sea, the Baltic, the Caribbean, the Arabian Gulf, Asia and Central America. (Carnival Corp. Plc) Update: August 15, 2010 [1 Story] USA Windstar Parent Narrows Q2 Loss The parent of Windstar Cruises narrowed its second quarter loss to $5.2-million, down from a loss of $22-million last year. During last year's quarter, Ambassadors International took an impairment charge of $14-million for carrying five Majestic America Line vessels that were withdrawn from service. Revenue was lower during the recent 3-month period, but Ambassadors cited stronger bookings in the 2nd half for its cautiously optimistic outlook. The company blamed its lower revenue, $13.4-million, down from $14.6-million, on "the global economic conditions over the last 12-months which impacted both occupancy rates and price points of ticket sales." Cruise operating expenses were $12.2-million, slightly under the $12.5-million of a year ago, due to lower passenger counts and more efficient cruise operations, partly offset by higher fuel costs. "The company continues to reduce its operating loss and remains focused on strengthening our financial position with the goal of becoming profitable," said Hans Birkholz, ceo of Ambassadors and Windstar. Ambassadors is on track for growth in the 2nd half, with improved per diems and load factors, and expects an 11% improvement in revenue compared to the 2nd half last year, he added. (Ambassadors International) Update: August 12, 2010 [3 Stories] Italy Costa's Investment In Protection Of The Environment Costa Cruises is leading the way in marine conservation, with two new initiatives being launched onboard the Costa Pacifica. Costa Pacifica is the world’s first cruise ship to install the French programme, REPCET (Real Time Plotting of Cetaceans), a trial programme which records and transmits reports of whale sightings. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of cruise liners colliding with whales by tracking their movements in the ocean and sharing this information with other ships. The REPCET programme uses a global satellite network, and whale-sighting reports generated by other commercial and passenger ships. The Costa Pacifica then takes the reports and transmits warnings to vessels whose routes are likely to take them close to the animals. In addition to housing the REPCET programme, the Costa Pacifica together with the JRC (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission), will host a series of important atmospheric measurements for monitoring climate change in the Mediterranean. Since 2005, Costa Cruises has been working with the JRC to find a new way to monitor climate change. Automatic air pollution monitoring stations have been installed on several Costa ships on regular routes in the western Mediterranean, including the Costa Pacifica. The rarely-obtained data from these stations yields important results for the JRC. (Pulse Communications) Greece Re-Discovering The Mediterranean Star Clippers¹ fleet of tall ships is gearing up for a busy Mediterranean summer in 2011 offering a blend of glamour yachting and the re-discovery of exclusive ports. The company¹s owner and chairman, Mikael Krafft, said that with more big ships than ever squeezed into ports, Star Clippers would focus on the 'real Mediterranean' -- exclusive small-ship destinations and spectacular anchorages favoured by sailors The three ships, the 228-passenger flagship Royal Clipper and the 170-passenger sister ships Star Flyer and Star Clipper, will sail more than 70 itineraries throughout the east and west Mediterranean generally from 7- to 11-nights, including many new ports of call. Royal Clipper¹s highlights include 10 and 11-night cruises from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, and Venice, visiting some of the most popular yachting areas in Croatia, including Korcula, Hvar and Rovinj. Star Clipper will operate from Athens, through the Greek Isles and along the Turkish coast. Some lesser-known Greek ports will be introduced, including tiny Amorgos (population 2,000) famous for its picturesque little villages, cafes, and harbourside fish taverns; and Monemvasia, a massive walled fortress that once housed an estimated 50,000 Byzantine Greeks. Star Flyer, operating from several ports including Cannes, Monaco, Athens, Malta and Istanbul, has six new itineraries in its European summer 2011 programme. (Glyn May) Australia Couple's Century Of Cruising A couple from the New South Wales' Central Coast are preparing for their 100th cruise in October this year. Recently returned from a South Pacific cruise on P&O Cruises' Pacific Jewel, Jack and Colleen Moss from Wyoming average about six cruise holidays each year. They are due to set sail on their 100th cruise in October on Princess Cruises' Sun Princess. Jack and Colleen Moss are regular visitors at Harvey World Travel Lisarow and Chantelle Woods and her team consider them part of their family. "We know their phone number, birth dates and their passport numbers off by heart," Ms Woods said. "It's wonderful that they have chosen our agency for so many years to book their cruises and 100 cruises is just such a great milestone." When Mr Moss walks onto a P&O Cruises or Princess ship, his first port of call on board is the gym but he's convinced cruising keeps him young. But his love affair with sea travel didn't start with such great promise, fleeing Burma and advancing Japanese forces in World War II with his family as a 6-year-old refugee in a ship's hot and stuffy cargo hold. His next sea voyages - on P&O's Chusan in 1950 from Bombay to the UK and then passage to Australia as a 20-year-old on Arcadia - changed his mind about cruising. Not satisfied with reaching a century, Jack and Colleen have already booked their 101st cruise onboard Sun Princess, sailing to New Zealand in January. P&O Cruises recently paid tribute to the couple for their commitment to cruising, by presenting them with a golden compass at HWT Lisarow. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 11, 2010 [2 Stories] Australia APT Building Own Ship For Mekong Cruises APT is building its own cruise ship - the ms Amalotus -- for the Mekong River in Indochina. The ship is a joint venture between Indochina Sails and European river cruise specialist AMAWATERWAYS, of which APT is a partner. APT already has an 8-ship European river cruise fleet together with the ms Amakatarina in Russia, developed in partnership with AMAWATERWAYS. ms Amalotus is due to enter service September next year, and will operate 7-day cruises between Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia's Siem Reap. She will accommodate 124 passengers in 62 cabins, and will incorporate similar design features to the new ms Amabella and ms Amaverde ships, including the revolutionary twin-balcony concept of APT’s Concerto class. APT General Manager Marketing, Debra Fox said APT had such strong demand for its fully-inclusive Mekong packages using the stylish La Marguerite ship, the company decided to build to ensure it continued to deliver a superior cruising experience on the Mekong, as had been achieved with APT-owned ships in Europe. “All the hallmarks of APT’s river ships in terms of style, comfort, choice and service will be replicated on the ms Amalotus,” she said. The Amalotus and sister ship La Marguerite will sail the same day of the week, one sailing downstream from Siem Reap, and the other sailing upstream from Ho Chi Minh City. APT will release its 2011 Vietnam brochure featuring the ms Amalotus and La Marguerite, next month. (Graeme Willingham Public Relations Pty Ltd) Italy Costa Favolosa Launched In Marghera Costa Favolosa, the new “Italian-made” flagship of Costa Cruises, has taken to the sea during a traditional technical launch ceremony held at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. The Costa Favolosa is the fourth of five new Costa ships due for delivery in Costa’s impressive fleet expansion programme scheduled from 2009 to 2012. The Costa Pacifica, Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa were the first to launch, and in (northern) Spring 2012, the Costa Fascinosa will complete the programme. The total investment is valued at 2.4 billion Euros. The fleet investment program launched in 2000 by the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group (comprising Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Iberocruceros) is worth approximately 9.3-billion Euros. “The launch of the Costa Favolosa confirms the strength and leadership of our Company,” said Costa Crociere S.p.A. President Gianni Onorato. “Despite the ongoing effects of the economic downturn in 2010 and the uncertain outlook for global tourism, our fleet expansion programme has continued uninterrupted. "The strength of our brand which has over 60-years experience, and the quality of our product, have proven to be winning assets, which are highly appreciated by our customers." The Costa Favolosa will debut with a 3-day mini preview cruise, departing from Venice on July 4, 2011 and visiting Croatia and Slovenia. This will be followed by her grand inaugural cruise which leaves Venice on July 7, 2011 for a 10-day cruise around Israel, Greece and Turkey. (Pulse Communications) Update: August 09, 2010 [1 Story] USA Oceania Announce Pillars Of Distinction Oceania Cruises has updated and enhanced its entire award-winning fleet of ships under its Pillars of Distinction programme, the most significant upgrade in the company’s history. Expanding on the successful formula that has made Oceania Cruises one of the most beloved brands in the world of cruise travel, the refurbishment centres on the hallmarks of the Oceania Cruises experience: comfort, cuisine and service. The updated fleet of the world’s best upper-premium ships - Regatta, Insignia and Nautica - now offer even more stylish staterooms, more varied cuisine-styles, including thoughtful spa cuisine, and one-of-a-kind off-shore and onboard experiences. Improvements on these three existing legacy ships have set the stage for the exciting and highly anticipated debut of the company’s newest flagship, Marina, which is scheduled to begin sailing in January 2011. According to Frank Del Rio, the line’s founder and chairman/CEO of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings ... “With our new Pillars of Distinction initiative we have raised the bar in upper-premium cruising to ensure that the Oceania Cruises experience remains unmatched. "There will be more dining and activity options but the sense of intimacy and luxury will remain.” (Liquid Ideas) Update: August 05, 2010 [2 Stories] Australia APT Delighted With Mekong Cruise Eight staff from APT’s sales, marketing and reservations recently experienced APT’s 8-day Mekong Delights River Cruise, travelling on the MS la Marguerite from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Siem Reap, Cambodia. According to APT General Manager Marketing, Deb Fox, highlights included experiencing Vietnam and Cambodia from the waters of the Mekong ... “you miss so much if you fly into Siem Reap from Vietnam and don’t choose to travel through the country,” ... immersing in remote communities that are only accessible by the waterways, the amazing local people and their culture by day and the luxury of the ship by night, and to finish with a couple of days exploring the Angkor archaeological site. During the 13-day trip, the group used thirteen modes of transport, from ox carts to sampans and everything in between! “This is really the best product on the market and we are now well equipped to support agents in promoting these sensational packages,” said Deb. Pictured at Bayon Temple, Cambodia, (l-r): Melinda Flavell (APT BDM Victoria), Graham Werner (APT BDM Queensland), Matt Lunn (APT BDM Victoria), with local dancers. (Graeme Willingham Public Relations Pty Ltd) Australia New Sales Manager For Complete Cruise Solutions Complete Cruise Solution has appointed a new regional sales manager, Ryan Taibel, to join existing regional sales manager David Clark in building strong relationships with travel agent groups across the country. Ryan Taibel will lead Complete Cruise Solution’s sales teams in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia while David Clark will continue to head up South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Mr Taibel has visited key contacts in NSW and WA as part of P&O Cruises’ largest ever Earlybird sales blitz last month and will call on the ACT next week. Complete Cruise Solution Director of Sales Don Clark said Mr Taibel had joined the cruise sales team at an exciting time, with another record cruise season on the horizon. “The popularity of cruise holidays in Australia grows every year and Ryan will play an important role in ensuring Complete Cruise Solution continues to grow with it,” Mr Clark said. Mr Taibel joins Complete Cruise Solution from an industry analyst firm, Frost & Sullivan, where he was Head of Sales. Prior to that, Mr Taibel spent 6-years with Travelex in sales management roles. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 04, 2010 [2 Stories] USA Princess Orders 20 Cosalt Mob Recovery Systems Cosalt, the specialist provider of critical safety equipment for the marine, industrial and offshore markets, has won an order from Princess Cruises to supply 20 Cosalt Man Over Board (MOB) Recovery Systems as part of the cruise line's new safety implementation for rescuing casualties from the sea. All ships in the Princess fleet will have Cosalt MOB Systems on board ready for deployment from the ship's pilot door if difficult sea conditions prohibit the launch of a rescue boat. Princess is one of the premiere cruise lines in the world. Its fleet carries more than a million passengers each year to more worldwide destinations than any other major line and the safety of its passengers is the company's number one priority. The Cosalt MOB Recovery System is a flexible, ladder-style device, which enables casualties, conscious or unconscious, to be retrieved from the water quickly in a horizontal position. This mode of recovery reduces the threat of heart and blood circulation problems in a person whose temperature is reduced by exposure. It is one of several items of specialist marine safety equipment in Cosalt's Personnel Recovery Devices (CPRD) range, which also includes lifebuoys, throwing lines and recovery slings. (Cruise News International) The Netherlands Avalon Waterways Welcomes New Avalon Luminary Avalon Waterways has launched its latest European river cruise ship Avalon Luminary, the 10th luxury vessel to join its fleet in the past 6-years. At a ceremony in the Dutch port city of Hoorn on Friday, the state-of-the-art Luminary was christened by the President of international travel agency group Virtuoso, Kristi Jones, before embarking on its sold-out maiden cruise on the Rhine. The launch coincides with near-record sales of Avalon river cruises among Australian travellers, with 2011 season bookings currently 200% above this time last year. Luminary's launch follows the introduction of Avalon Felicity in March, as well as Avalon Creativity and Avalon Affinity last year, making Avalon's the most modern fleet on the rivers of Europe. It precedes next year's introduction of the revolutionary new 'Suite Ship' Avalon Panorama, which will offer a new concept in European river cruises with its two entire decks of all-suite accommodation and expansive sliding glass doors that turn its suites into open-air balconies. Luminary will initially operate Avalon's 8-day Romantic Rhine itinerary between Amsterdam and Basel before sailing a series of Christmas cruises during the northern winter and a succession of 10 different itineraries throughout 2011. It features 65 staterooms measuring 16sqm - the largest staterooms on Europe's rivers - with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic sliding glass doors. The Luminary also offers four Junior Suites, each a spacious 24sqm. Other features include a fitness room, library, hair salon, gift shop, club lounge and Jacuzzi on the Sky Deck. Pictured aboard the new Avalon Luminary at its christening (from left): Patrick Clark, Managing Director of Avalon Waterways; Kristi Jones, President of Virtuoso; and Dr Thomas Ritter, CEO of financing company Seehandlung. (MG Media Communications) Update: August 03, 2010 [2 Stories] USA Cruise Ship Hits Humpback Whale A cruise ship traveling from Seattle to Alaska had to wait to dock in Juneau, Alaska, until a dead whale could be removed from its bow. The ship, owned by Princess Cruises, returned to Seattle on Sunday. Scientists are conducting a necropsy on the whale, a 43ft female humpback, to determine whether she was killed by the ship's impact or if she was already injured or dead when the ship hit her. (American Society of Travel Agents) China Singapore Cruise Centre Signs MOU with Tianjin Port Singapore Cruise Centre and Tianjin cruise terminal have signed a memorandum of understanding to support one another in promoting and enhancing services which includes joint marketing collaboration, sharing of relevant data and information, exchange of knowledge, provision of consultancy services and training and cruise development projects. Signed by Liu Zhong Jun, general manager of Tianjin International Cruise Home Port Co., and Ivan Ng, vp of Singapore Cruise Centre, the agreement reflects the intention to tap into China’s rapid economic growth. Situated in north China, Tianjin port is approximately 160km from Beijing. Last month Costa Romantica became the first cruise ship to call at the new Tianjin International Cruise Terminal. Singapore Cruise Centre has been steadily building a portfolio of cruise terminal joint ventures across Asia and beyond. To date SCC has projects in some 13 countries. Last month an MOU was signed with Shanghai’s Wu Song Kou International Cruise Terminal Development Co., a new terminal under construction in the estuary of the Huangpu River. (Seatrade Communications Limited) Back to Front Page