* China, the Caribbean and the Internet
Last week, Royal Caribbean surprised the industry by announcing that after one winter season sailing from the Northeast United States to the Caribbean, the company would move Quantum of the Seas to China. A lot of American cruisers were nonplused and had a hard time understanding the move. The subject of China was a major topic in Royal Caribbean’s conference call to discuss their first quarter earnings with financial analysts yesterday. The comments shed a lot more light on Royal Caribbean’s view of China, so it’s easy to understand why Quantum won’t be here and why more ships will probably follow it to China.
There was also some interesting discussion about the Caribbean market, which should give consumers an idea of what to expect in that popular market, and there was also an interesting insight into why the company wants to upgrade the internet on their ships.
The complete article appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Cruisingexcursions.com's Managing Director in Hall of Fame
Cruisingexcursions.com's Simon Purchase wins Travel's Hall of Fame - Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Thirty-one year old Simon Purchase has been announced as the winner of one of the travel industry’s prestigious Hall of Fame Awards; the awards were held last night in London at the Savoy Hotel (Thursday 24th April. 2014)
Purchase was named ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ in recognition of the huge success and phenomenal growth of the company he created cruisingexcursions.com.
Managing director Purchase started crusingexcursions.com three years ago offering those booked on cruises a range of pre-bookable, competitively priced shore excursions and port transfers - an alternative to the often pricey excursions offered onboard cruise ships. Cruisingexcursions.com was launched with just 240 European excursions available at 60 Mediterranean ports and this has now grown to over 10,000 excursions offered at more than 700 ports worldwide
Purchase said: “I launched cruisingexcursions.com with £50K capital share and £100K loan capital in July 2011, after I became aware of a gap in the rapidly growing cruising market – nobody was really selling cruise port excursions – except the cruiselines – and they were making a very tidy profit on them! Within the UK and the rest of Europe there was no ‘one-stop’ product where a travel agent or a direct customer could view a cruise itinerary, or just a specific port of call, see all of the options available to them, and book their tours before departing on their cruise.”
After school Purchase did a chemistry degree at Coventry University and then worked in the travel industry for a tour operator gaining valuable experience and where he identified the gap in the cruising industry. Cruisingexcursions.com is based in Cannock in the Midlands and employs thirty-nine people.
The British Travel Industry Hall of Fame was created in 1995, ‘to honour excellence and outstanding achievement in those who have played a significant part in creating and developing the travel, hospitality and tourism industry. ‘
The Hall of Fame Awards are a fixture in the travel industry’s calendar where the best in the industry are honoured. Simon Purchase was in illustrious company with easyjet’s CEO Carolyn McCall receiving the 2014 the Business Achievement Award and The Ambassador Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Travel presented to Jane Ashton, Group Director of Sustainable Development at TUI for her dedication to sustainable travel issues.
About Cruisingexcursions.com
The online shore excursions and activities company cruisingexcursions.com was launched in June 2011 with the aim of providing reliable, shore excursions at competitive prices. The varied choice of activities include walking tours, sightseeing, luxury beach days, cultural, historical, religious, fine cuisine or simply experiencing the culture and vibrancy of a region. The company now has a choice of close to 10,000 excursions at more than 700 ports worldwide. The company is based in Cannock, Staffordshire and is headed by MD Simon Purchase who in 2014 won the travel industry’s Hall of Fame Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Source: Cruisingexcursions.com
 |
| Simon Purchase |
Purchase was named ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ in recognition of the huge success and phenomenal growth of the company he created cruisingexcursions.com.
Managing director Purchase started crusingexcursions.com three years ago offering those booked on cruises a range of pre-bookable, competitively priced shore excursions and port transfers - an alternative to the often pricey excursions offered onboard cruise ships. Cruisingexcursions.com was launched with just 240 European excursions available at 60 Mediterranean ports and this has now grown to over 10,000 excursions offered at more than 700 ports worldwide
Purchase said: “I launched cruisingexcursions.com with £50K capital share and £100K loan capital in July 2011, after I became aware of a gap in the rapidly growing cruising market – nobody was really selling cruise port excursions – except the cruiselines – and they were making a very tidy profit on them! Within the UK and the rest of Europe there was no ‘one-stop’ product where a travel agent or a direct customer could view a cruise itinerary, or just a specific port of call, see all of the options available to them, and book their tours before departing on their cruise.”
After school Purchase did a chemistry degree at Coventry University and then worked in the travel industry for a tour operator gaining valuable experience and where he identified the gap in the cruising industry. Cruisingexcursions.com is based in Cannock in the Midlands and employs thirty-nine people.
The British Travel Industry Hall of Fame was created in 1995, ‘to honour excellence and outstanding achievement in those who have played a significant part in creating and developing the travel, hospitality and tourism industry. ‘
The Hall of Fame Awards are a fixture in the travel industry’s calendar where the best in the industry are honoured. Simon Purchase was in illustrious company with easyjet’s CEO Carolyn McCall receiving the 2014 the Business Achievement Award and The Ambassador Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Travel presented to Jane Ashton, Group Director of Sustainable Development at TUI for her dedication to sustainable travel issues.
About Cruisingexcursions.com
The online shore excursions and activities company cruisingexcursions.com was launched in June 2011 with the aim of providing reliable, shore excursions at competitive prices. The varied choice of activities include walking tours, sightseeing, luxury beach days, cultural, historical, religious, fine cuisine or simply experiencing the culture and vibrancy of a region. The company now has a choice of close to 10,000 excursions at more than 700 ports worldwide. The company is based in Cannock, Staffordshire and is headed by MD Simon Purchase who in 2014 won the travel industry’s Hall of Fame Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Source: Cruisingexcursions.com
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Cruise News Daily Headlines for April 24, 2014
* Just Like the Caribbean Except in the Mediterranean
When MSC Divina came to the Caribbean last fall, it was to be dedicated to the American market and sail in the Caribbean year round. It’s still dedicated to the American market, but after a year a half, it will leave the Caribbean for the summer (2015).
It will be back for the winter 2015-2016 season, but why it’s going to the Med and not staying in the Caribbean makes sense, if you follow the reasoning all the way through.
* Carnival Expands at Galveston
Carnival Cruise Lines said today they will homeport a third ship year round at Galveston beginning next February. It will be deployed primarily in the seven-night market.
The additional ship will represent a 38% increase in capacity at the Texas port, because the additional ship will be the 110,000-ton Conquest-class Carnival Freedom.
The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.
When MSC Divina came to the Caribbean last fall, it was to be dedicated to the American market and sail in the Caribbean year round. It’s still dedicated to the American market, but after a year a half, it will leave the Caribbean for the summer (2015).
It will be back for the winter 2015-2016 season, but why it’s going to the Med and not staying in the Caribbean makes sense, if you follow the reasoning all the way through.
* Carnival Expands at Galveston
Carnival Cruise Lines said today they will homeport a third ship year round at Galveston beginning next February. It will be deployed primarily in the seven-night market.
The additional ship will represent a 38% increase in capacity at the Texas port, because the additional ship will be the 110,000-ton Conquest-class Carnival Freedom.
The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.
Rudi Sodamin Honored
Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin Honored with ‘Golden Cloche’ Award in Austria
Celebrated chef also to receive Golden Medal of Honor from Province of Styria, Austria
Seattle, Wash., April 24, 2014 — The Gastronomy Club Wien and the Chamber of Commerce in Austria presented Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin with the “Golden Cloche” award. In cooperation with The Austrian Cooks’ Association, Gastronomy Club Wien honored Sodamin during the Gala Night of Gastronomy 2014 at the Orangery in Vienna.
Gastronomy Club Wien is an esteemed organization in Vienna whose members are chefs and restaurants owners in the gastro industry. Past honorees include Heinz Reitbauer, a 3-star Michelin Chef from the Viennese restaurant Steirereck, and Chef of the Century Ekard Witzigman from the Gault Millau guide. Only three other chefs – Paul Bocuse, Joël Robuchon and Frédy Girardet — have been awarded this title.
Chef Sodamin also learned that later this month he will receive the “Golden Medal of Honor” from the Austrian Province of Styria. The prestigious award will be presented to Sodamin, who was born in the region, by the Governor of Styria, Magister Franz Voves, in an official ceremony in the state rooms of the Parliament in Graz, Austria.
“I am deeply honored to receive both these beautiful awards from my home country,” said Sodamin. “It is my greatest joy to share my passion for all-things culinary with the world, and it is rewarding to be acknowledged for my achievements.”
Sodamin is internationally recognized as a food authority and one of the hospitality industry's most innovative chefs. He has directed the evolution of fine dining and unique menu options at Holland America Line through his role as culinary consultant. His ideas have been instrumental in the development of Holland America Line’s interactive culinary arts program onboard as well.
Sodamin is chairman of Holland America Line’s Culinary Council, which was formed to enrich the premium line’s culinary program and is composed of international chefs Mark Best, Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner and Jacques Torres.
“Rudi continues to enhance the culinary experience onboard our ships, and it’s no surprise that he’s being recognized with these awards,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “Rudi is known for his innovative thinking across the cruise industry, and we’re proud to have him as a part of our family.”
Sodamin revolutionized the menus and perceptions of the most prestigious cruise lines in the world and is the author of numerous internationally published cookbooks, including “Seduction & Spice” (Rizzoli, 2000) and Holland America Line’s “A Taste of Excellence” (Rizzoli, 2007), “A Taste of Elegance” (Rizzoli, 2009) and “A Taste of Celebration” (Rizzoli, 2010).
His many accolades include a rating of 17 (out of 20) and Three Toques from the prestigious Gault-Millau Guide, the first for an onboard restaurant (the only such award ever presented at sea). Sodamin belongs to the prestigious Academy Culinaire de France, the Maîtres Cuisiners de France and is an honorary member of the noble Club des Chefs des Chefs whose members cook for presidents, kings and prime ministers.
Source: Holland America Line
Celebrated chef also to receive Golden Medal of Honor from Province of Styria, Austria
Seattle, Wash., April 24, 2014 — The Gastronomy Club Wien and the Chamber of Commerce in Austria presented Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin with the “Golden Cloche” award. In cooperation with The Austrian Cooks’ Association, Gastronomy Club Wien honored Sodamin during the Gala Night of Gastronomy 2014 at the Orangery in Vienna.
Gastronomy Club Wien is an esteemed organization in Vienna whose members are chefs and restaurants owners in the gastro industry. Past honorees include Heinz Reitbauer, a 3-star Michelin Chef from the Viennese restaurant Steirereck, and Chef of the Century Ekard Witzigman from the Gault Millau guide. Only three other chefs – Paul Bocuse, Joël Robuchon and Frédy Girardet — have been awarded this title.
Chef Sodamin also learned that later this month he will receive the “Golden Medal of Honor” from the Austrian Province of Styria. The prestigious award will be presented to Sodamin, who was born in the region, by the Governor of Styria, Magister Franz Voves, in an official ceremony in the state rooms of the Parliament in Graz, Austria.
“I am deeply honored to receive both these beautiful awards from my home country,” said Sodamin. “It is my greatest joy to share my passion for all-things culinary with the world, and it is rewarding to be acknowledged for my achievements.”
Sodamin is internationally recognized as a food authority and one of the hospitality industry's most innovative chefs. He has directed the evolution of fine dining and unique menu options at Holland America Line through his role as culinary consultant. His ideas have been instrumental in the development of Holland America Line’s interactive culinary arts program onboard as well.
Sodamin is chairman of Holland America Line’s Culinary Council, which was formed to enrich the premium line’s culinary program and is composed of international chefs Mark Best, Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner and Jacques Torres.
“Rudi continues to enhance the culinary experience onboard our ships, and it’s no surprise that he’s being recognized with these awards,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “Rudi is known for his innovative thinking across the cruise industry, and we’re proud to have him as a part of our family.”
Sodamin revolutionized the menus and perceptions of the most prestigious cruise lines in the world and is the author of numerous internationally published cookbooks, including “Seduction & Spice” (Rizzoli, 2000) and Holland America Line’s “A Taste of Excellence” (Rizzoli, 2007), “A Taste of Elegance” (Rizzoli, 2009) and “A Taste of Celebration” (Rizzoli, 2010).
His many accolades include a rating of 17 (out of 20) and Three Toques from the prestigious Gault-Millau Guide, the first for an onboard restaurant (the only such award ever presented at sea). Sodamin belongs to the prestigious Academy Culinaire de France, the Maîtres Cuisiners de France and is an honorary member of the noble Club des Chefs des Chefs whose members cook for presidents, kings and prime ministers.
Source: Holland America Line
MSC Divina Leaving the Caribbean During the Summer of 2015
MSC said MSC Divina will sail in the Mediterranean during the summer
of 2015 instead of the Caribbean. The ship will return to the Caribbean
for the winter 2015-2016 season.
Details will appear in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.
Details will appear in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.
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