Friday, December 11, 2015

Crystal Is Rolling with the River Cruises

Crystal opened the books on their new European river cruise product at the first of the month for past Crystal passengers. The programs won’t open to the general public until the middle of this month, but the entire product line will be available for booking from the July 2016 inaugural all the way through 2018.

The line is reporting exceptionally strong bookings, but then again, they have a unique product. Several river lines say they have a luxury product, and it may be luxurious compared to their competitors, it is not in the luxury category as has been defined for ocean cruisers. Crystal knows what the luxury category is, and they are promising it on their river line. They tell us they are bringing their onboard ocean cruise product to their river yard vessels, and that promises to be unique in the market.

The complete story appeared in the December 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 12, 2015

CND subscribers also read about:
  • Herbie Hancock will be the headliner on QM2's next Blue Note Jazz at Sea Cruise on August 1, 2016. 
  • MSC's Pierfrancesco Vago has been reelected to a one-year term as CLIA Europe Chairman. 
Details appeared in the December 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Silver Muse Taking Shape

Fincantieri laid the keel today for Silverseas’ Silver Muse at their Sestri Ponenti yard near Genoa.

In keeping with tradition, coins were welded into the hull for luck during building process and later wherever the ship sails. 

The complete story appeared in the December 10 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Zenith Damages Reef While Anchored at Cayman

Sometimes you can do all the right things and still end up in trouble. That’s Pullmantur’s situation in the Cayman Islands after Tuesday’s incident with Zenith.

While anchored at Grand Cayman, Zenith’s anchor chain caused significant damage to a coral reef, and it was reported and documented on video by a local diver.

Pullmantur and its parent, Royal Caribbean Cruises, are taking heat for the incident in the media and the court of public opinion, but it appears that the ship was anchored where it was supposed to be in a designated anchorage.

Details appeared in the December 10 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Grand Princess Update

Grand Princess arrived back at San Francisco this morning as planned and prepared to depart on the next scheduled cruise this evening.

The ship sustained a malfunction in one of its electrical switchboards five days into a 14-night round trip cruise to Hawaii. The failure resulted in slower cruising speeds while repairs were underway, and that resulted in cancellation of all port calls except Honolulu.

The complete story appeared in the December 10 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Princess Announces Entertainer of the Year Finalists

How can a year have gone by already since comedic magician Ben Seidman was chosen Princess’ Entertainer of the Year?

Well, actually it hasn’t. He won the title last March, but it was about a year ago at this time we were telling you that he and three others were finalists in the competition and one would be chosen by Crown Princess’ passengers in March.

Now it’s time to tell you about the finals for Princess’ Entertainer of the Year for 2015, because the finalists have just been chosen by Princess’ Entertainment Department.

The complete story appeared in the December 9 of Cruise News Daily.

Counting Down to Koningsdam

This is the second video in a series about Holland America Line's MS Koningsdam which is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera Italy near Venice. Koningsdam will debut in April 2016.

In this installment, Holland America Line’s Vice President Deployment and Tour Marketing Linda Springmann talking about the ship’s inaugural year itineraries. Springmann details Koningsdam’s cruises in the Mediterranean, northern Europe and Caribbean, offering itinerary highlights and fun facts about the ship’s maiden sailing season.


Cassidy Promoted, New Responsibilities at RCI

Royal Caribbean promotes Lori Cassidy to AVP, GLobal corporate, incentive & charter sales

MIAMI, FL – Dec. 8, 2015 – Royal Caribbean International has promoted Lori Cassidy to Associate Vice President of Global Corporate, Incentive & Charter Sales. Cassidy is responsible for all sales, service, and marketing efforts pertaining to global meeting, incentive and full-ship charter business, as well as the Royal Caribbean loyalty gift card and individual incentive certificate programs. In her new role, Cassidy leads the Global Corporate, Incentive & Charter Sales and Service team in managing, developing and servicing meeting, incentive and group event opportunities with incentive houses, brokers, independent meeting planners, corporate planners and travel planners around the world. Royal Caribbean welcomed Cassidy in 2008 as Director, Corporate, Incentive & Charter Sales, and has since taken on increased responsibility and successfully grown the meeting, incentive and charter sales channel for the international cruise line. Cassidy continues to report directly to Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President, Sales and Trade Support & Service, Royal Caribbean International.

"Lori is an asset to our group travel partners and a respected member of our organization. Her incredible experience, skill and instinct for the business make her a strong leader for her team, resulting in continued momentum and stronger relationships around the world,” said Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President, Sales and Trade Support & Service, Royal Caribbean International. “This is a hard-earned, well-deserved promotion within the Royal Caribbean Sales and Trade team, and we look forward to her continued success.”

Cassidy has been in the cruise industry for over 22 years. Prior to joining Royal Caribbean International, she was with Carnival Cruise Lines for 15 years holding Director positions in Corporate & Incentive Sales for five years and Business Development for 10 years, respectively.

Lori attended Bloomsburg University where she majored in business administration. Lori received her CIC designation and is an active member of MPI, SITE, IMA, DSA, IFA, FICP and several other industry associations.

Source: Royal Caribbean International

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The Verandah to Replace Todd English aboard Queen Mary 2

When Queen Mary 2 emerges from its refit in June, Todd English will be out, to be replaced by the line’s new signature restaurant, the Verandah.

The complete story appeared in the December 8 edition of Cruise News Daily.



Sharing the Wealth

Royal Caribbean Cruise, Ltd declared a quarterly dividend today.

The company will pay 37.5 cents per share to shareholders of record at 5pm on December 21. The dividend will be payable on January 5, 2016.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Jewel of the Seas to Get $30 Million Makeover

Before Jewel of the Seas hits the Mediterranean next summer, Royal Caribbean is giving it a complete makeover.

Royal Caribbean says with the updating, the 90,090-ton ship will be “the most contemporary ship to sail from Rome this summer.”

Details appeared in the December 7 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Excursion Accident Claims Lives of Two

Two passengers from Celebrity Summit were fatally injured in a bus accident on Tortola on Sunday (December 6). Sixteen others were injured, but most of them were treated and released from the hospital and rejoined the ship at Tortola. Two, however, were critically injured.

The bus was independently operated and not part of a Celebrity-sponsored excursion, but Celebrity is assisting the injured passengers.

The complete story appeared in the December 7 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Sweetening the Offer

Look out, chocolate lovers. Princess has expanded their “Chocolate Journeys” program with famed chocolatier Norman Love. Additional creations will begin to appear in various venues around the ships in early 2016.

“Without a doubt, chocolate is everyone’s guilty pleasure,” said Love. “These new chocolate creations give guests even more opportunities to indulge in something that makes them instantly happy, while creating lifelong memories aboard Princess Cruises.”

Details appeared in the December 7 edition of Cruise News Daily.