Photos courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Royal Caribbean's Oasis 3 Starts to Take Shape
The third ship in the Oasis-class has been under construction at the STX yard in Saint-Nazaire (France) for more than eight months, but it is finally beginning to be recognizable as a ship. Delivery is still scheduled for April 2016.
Photos courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.
Photos courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.
Carnival Taps Navy Man for Nautical & Safety Post
Miller named Vice President of Nautical and Safety Operations for Carnival Cruise Line
MIAMI (January 30, 2015) – Richard Miller, who served in the U.S. Navy for more than 25 years and possesses extensive experience in shipboard and shoreside global marine operations, has been named vice president of nautical and safety operations for Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line.
In this capacity, Miller oversees all aspects of maritime safety and nautical operations for the company’s 24-ship fleet, including marine compliance, quality assurance, environmental functions and operational safety, with all shipboard deck and bridge personnel, including ship captains, reporting to him.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Rick’s caliber overseeing this important aspect of our operations,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of ship operations. “Rick’s wide-ranging experience and expertise will be of great benefit as we strive for excellence in the critical areas of safety, compliance, ship operations and environmental responsibility, among others,” Rodriguez added.
During his esteemed career, Miller served in a variety of positions within the U.S. Navy, including commanding officer/captain of a guided missile destroyer and executive officer/staff captain of a guided missile cruiser. Miller also held several shoreside positions within the Navy, including managing shipbuilding and repair budgets and, most recently, serving as chief of operations for U.S. Southern Command, responsible for directing all Department of Defense operations in South and Central America and the Caribbean region.
Miller has extensive experience in bridge resource management programs, oversight of damage control, operational and incident risk management, occupational and environmental safety programs, and vessel security. His seagoing experience has taken him throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering from the United States Naval Academy, master’s degrees in international affairs and national security studies, and is working toward completing Ph.D. requirements in political economy.
Source: Carnival Cruise Line
MIAMI (January 30, 2015) – Richard Miller, who served in the U.S. Navy for more than 25 years and possesses extensive experience in shipboard and shoreside global marine operations, has been named vice president of nautical and safety operations for Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line.
In this capacity, Miller oversees all aspects of maritime safety and nautical operations for the company’s 24-ship fleet, including marine compliance, quality assurance, environmental functions and operational safety, with all shipboard deck and bridge personnel, including ship captains, reporting to him.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Rick’s caliber overseeing this important aspect of our operations,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of ship operations. “Rick’s wide-ranging experience and expertise will be of great benefit as we strive for excellence in the critical areas of safety, compliance, ship operations and environmental responsibility, among others,” Rodriguez added.
During his esteemed career, Miller served in a variety of positions within the U.S. Navy, including commanding officer/captain of a guided missile destroyer and executive officer/staff captain of a guided missile cruiser. Miller also held several shoreside positions within the Navy, including managing shipbuilding and repair budgets and, most recently, serving as chief of operations for U.S. Southern Command, responsible for directing all Department of Defense operations in South and Central America and the Caribbean region.
Miller has extensive experience in bridge resource management programs, oversight of damage control, operational and incident risk management, occupational and environmental safety programs, and vessel security. His seagoing experience has taken him throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering from the United States Naval Academy, master’s degrees in international affairs and national security studies, and is working toward completing Ph.D. requirements in political economy.
Source: Carnival Cruise Line
Thursday, January 29, 2015
What They Didn’t Say on Royal Caribbean's Earnings Call
Royal Caribbean held a conference call today to discuss their fourth quarter earnings.
There seemed to be little that would be of interest to consumers, but a couple of things that weren’t being said caught our attention.
The complete story appeared in the January 29 edition of Cruise News Daily.
There seemed to be little that would be of interest to consumers, but a couple of things that weren’t being said caught our attention.
The complete story appeared in the January 29 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Overboard from Sapphire Princess
Most of the time when we report a passenger goes overboard from a ship, the story ends with the cruise ship searching unsuccessfully, but the Coast Guard continuing to search.
We have a better ending from an overboard story from Sapphire Princess that occurred last week.
Details appeared in the January 29 edition of Cruise News Daily.
We have a better ending from an overboard story from Sapphire Princess that occurred last week.
Details appeared in the January 29 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Costa Group strengthens organization
Genoa, Italy, January 29, 2015 – Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group, today announced a number of changes to strengthen the leadership team and the company’s organizational structure.
Effective February 1st, 2015, the current Senior Vice President Hotel Operations & Product Development, Neil Palomba, will be appointed President of Costa Crociere, Genoa. He will be responsible for managing the Costa brand, as well as for the structure and design of products, sales and customer care at Europe’s leading cruise company.
Also effective February 1st, 2015, the company will appoint Buhdy Sin Bok, the current Senior Vice President Pacific Asia & China, as President of Costa Asia, Shanghai. This reflects the increasing importance of Asia for the Costa Group, especially the rapidly growing Chinese market in which Costa Asia is the market leader.
The two newly appointed presidents will, together with Michael Ungerer, who heads AIDA Cruises, report directly to the CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A..
"I would like to congratulate Neil and Buhdy on their new positions and look forward to working with them intensively on the further expansion of our company. These appointments will help us strengthen our Costa and Costa Asia brands and support the development of our global activities, especially in Europe and Asia," says Michael Thamm.
Development of a central Marine Operations Center for the Costa Group
A further organizational change announced today is the establishment of a central Marine Operations Center in Hamburg, Germany. Under the name Carnival Maritime, Costa Group is creating, with the support of Lufthansa Technik, a highly modern, digitalized unit for the operation of its fleet, currently numbering 25 ships. Carnival Maritime will be led by Jens Lassen, current Senior Vice President Marine Operations AIDA Cruises, who will also report directly to the CEO of Costa Group.
"The Hamburg location offers us excellent access to technology and expertise in the maritime sector. We are certain that the close cooperation with Lufthansa Technik will enable us to transfer airline know-how to improve continuously the quality of our fleet’s operations,” Thamm continues.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is the leading cruise company in Europe. The 25 ships of the brands Costa Crociere, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia together have a total capacity of 68,000 beds. The fleet will be further strengthened by two new vessels with a total of 8,700 beds by 2016. The company has a global workforce of 27,000 employees working onboard and in its 20 offices in 14 countries.
Source: Costa Crociere
Effective February 1st, 2015, the current Senior Vice President Hotel Operations & Product Development, Neil Palomba, will be appointed President of Costa Crociere, Genoa. He will be responsible for managing the Costa brand, as well as for the structure and design of products, sales and customer care at Europe’s leading cruise company.
Also effective February 1st, 2015, the company will appoint Buhdy Sin Bok, the current Senior Vice President Pacific Asia & China, as President of Costa Asia, Shanghai. This reflects the increasing importance of Asia for the Costa Group, especially the rapidly growing Chinese market in which Costa Asia is the market leader.
The two newly appointed presidents will, together with Michael Ungerer, who heads AIDA Cruises, report directly to the CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A..
"I would like to congratulate Neil and Buhdy on their new positions and look forward to working with them intensively on the further expansion of our company. These appointments will help us strengthen our Costa and Costa Asia brands and support the development of our global activities, especially in Europe and Asia," says Michael Thamm.
Development of a central Marine Operations Center for the Costa Group
A further organizational change announced today is the establishment of a central Marine Operations Center in Hamburg, Germany. Under the name Carnival Maritime, Costa Group is creating, with the support of Lufthansa Technik, a highly modern, digitalized unit for the operation of its fleet, currently numbering 25 ships. Carnival Maritime will be led by Jens Lassen, current Senior Vice President Marine Operations AIDA Cruises, who will also report directly to the CEO of Costa Group.
"The Hamburg location offers us excellent access to technology and expertise in the maritime sector. We are certain that the close cooperation with Lufthansa Technik will enable us to transfer airline know-how to improve continuously the quality of our fleet’s operations,” Thamm continues.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is the leading cruise company in Europe. The 25 ships of the brands Costa Crociere, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia together have a total capacity of 68,000 beds. The fleet will be further strengthened by two new vessels with a total of 8,700 beds by 2016. The company has a global workforce of 27,000 employees working onboard and in its 20 offices in 14 countries.
Source: Costa Crociere
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Honoring a Retired Queen
Cunard’s Royal Rendezvous are usually quite special events for the line. On those occasions, two (or on very rare occasions, three) of their ships meet and salute and sometimes even sail together. Because they are so special to Cunard, they make an event out of it, and it becomes special for the passengers on the ships, and especially for those on shore witnessing the spectacle that’s created.
One of those meetings will take place shortly, but one with a bit more meaning. On February 5, Queen Elizabeth is going to meet the now-retired Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor.
Details appeared in the January 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.
One of those meetings will take place shortly, but one with a bit more meaning. On February 5, Queen Elizabeth is going to meet the now-retired Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor.
Details appeared in the January 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Seabourn Reveals Names for Two Newest Ships
Seabourn Cruises today revealed they have chosen the names of Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation for the two ships they have on order from Fincantieri. The new ships are scheduled for delivery in late 2016 and the spring of 2018, respectively.
The complete article appeared in the January 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The complete article appeared in the January 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Count on Cunard for Something Different
We have to hand it to Cunard. All cruise lines bring things (exhibitions or events) aboard their ships from time to time that won’t necessarily sell more cabins, but they will provide something extra of interest for their customers. Most lines will have a Super Bowl themed party, or maybe something connected to a special guest, but Cunard approaches things differently.
We remember exhibitions of memorabilia from earlier days of the line, and artifacts from film legends who have traveled with Cunard, but today the line announced they have something planned that will be even more unusual.
The complete story was in the January 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.
We remember exhibitions of memorabilia from earlier days of the line, and artifacts from film legends who have traveled with Cunard, but today the line announced they have something planned that will be even more unusual.
The complete story was in the January 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Good Karma Involves Princess Cruises
Sometimes there is justice in the world and a little act of kindness that you’re moved to do - and never expect to be seen by anyone - does get noticed by someone else and it gets rewarded.
That’s what happened to one Seattle Seahawk’s fan, and Princess Cruises stepped in, in a big way.
The complete story appeared in the January 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.
That’s what happened to one Seattle Seahawk’s fan, and Princess Cruises stepped in, in a big way.
The complete story appeared in the January 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Carnival Considering Two More Joint Ventures in China
Carnival Corp said they have signed a memorandum of understanding with China Merchant Group (CMG) to consider the possibility of two joint ventures to grow the cruise industry in China.
The two ventures are designed to help China to realize its goal of becoming one of the world’s major cruise markets.
Details were in the January 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The two ventures are designed to help China to realize its goal of becoming one of the world’s major cruise markets.
Details were in the January 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Electrical Problems Delay Serenade of the Seas
Late Friday night as Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas was traveling up the Mississippi River to New Orleans for its Saturday turnaround, a water pipe burst, flooding some of the ship’s electrical equipment. As a result, some areas of the ship lost power.
The end result was that Serenade was a day late leaving New Orleans on the next cruise, and many passengers didn’t sail because, even then, a large number of staterooms were still without power.
The complete story appeared in the January 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The end result was that Serenade was a day late leaving New Orleans on the next cruise, and many passengers didn’t sail because, even then, a large number of staterooms were still without power.
The complete story appeared in the January 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Veendam Rescues Pilot of Ditched Aircraft
Over the weekend, Holland America’s Veendam was involved in a rather unusual rescue off the coast of Maui.
A small plane was having a mechanical issue with its fuel system and had to ditch in the ocean near the ship 230 miles northeast of Maui. Veendam quickly rescued the pilot (the sole occupant) while a Coast Guard HC-130 circled the area capturing some incredible video.The video was, of course, edited for time, and it makes it look like Veendam arrived just after the aircraft went into the water. They were nearby, but not quite that close. The pilot was only in the water for about 30 minutes, however.
The complete story appeared in the January 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.
A small plane was having a mechanical issue with its fuel system and had to ditch in the ocean near the ship 230 miles northeast of Maui. Veendam quickly rescued the pilot (the sole occupant) while a Coast Guard HC-130 circled the area capturing some incredible video.The video was, of course, edited for time, and it makes it look like Veendam arrived just after the aircraft went into the water. They were nearby, but not quite that close. The pilot was only in the water for about 30 minutes, however.
The complete story appeared in the January 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.