Carnival creates boutique cruises that include a 'Throwback Seaday'

Carnival Cruise Lines is redoubling its push for more interesting itineraries, creating a new cruise collection that has novel onboard features in addition to longer voyages.

Called “Carnival Journeys,” the cruises will feature more local food and entertainment options, fun “Carnival style” enrichment classes, more crew interaction and a “Throwback Seaday” in which the clock will be turned back to 1987.

“We want to create something really different in terms of the experience,” said Terry Thornton, senior vice president of itinerary planning.

So far, 26 cruises have been designated Carnival Journeys. They are all longer than the typical Carnival cruise and include some smaller, less visited ports. Thornton cited Bonaire; Martinique; Grenada; Dominica; and Ixtapa, Mexico, as examples. Cruises will run between 9 and 15 days.

Well under 1% of Carnival cruises will be in the program. Part of the idea is to give experienced cruisers and Carnival's past guests something new to aspire to. “This will be a natural for people who have cruised before to come back to cruising and find something original and unique,” Thornton said.

For travel agents, Carnival Journeys offer the prospect of higher commissions than are typical for Carnival.

There are five components to the new onboard program. In “Authentic Eats,” Carnival will partner with local restaurants in ports of call to do onboard cooking demonstrations. There will be excursions to the restaurants and market tours with the chef.

“Local-tainment” will feature local bands either on or off the ship; "Academy of Fun,” will offer enrichment, but in a non-stuffy, entertaining way; and a “Throwback Seaday” will bring back the Baked Alaska dessert, the and white gloves on officers, as Carnival featured in 1987.

The fifth component is a heightened opportunity for interaction with the staff at all levels, and more chances to learn about shipboard life.

The first Carnival Journeys cruise is scheduled for Oct. 4 from New Orleans.
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Correction: The first Carnival Journeys cruise will depart New Orleans, not Galveston as previously reported.

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MSC Cruises’ Two New “Seaside” Vessels

By Aaron Saunders 

It’s hard to believe that a decade ago, the MSC Cruises fleet was only made up of a handful of ships, most of which were second-hand tonnage. Now, the line has just announced a deal with Italian shipyard Fincantieri for two brand-new ships to join the popular cruise line’s current fleet of 12 modern megaships. What a difference a decade makes.


MSC’s new ‘Seaside’ class of cruise ships will debut in 2017-2018. Rendering courtesy of MSC Cruises.

Dubbed Seaside, these two ships will be the largest vessels ever constructed by Fincantieri, and the largest to ever sail for MSC. Purpose-built to cruise the Mediterranean, Caribbean and South America, each vessel will be 1,060 feet in length, with a width of 135 feet. Towering 230 feet in height, they will carry up to 5,300 passengers along with a crew of 1,413. The new vessels will have a total gross tonnage of 154,000.

For MSC Cruises, it’s a special moment. The company says the two ships represent the last piece of its plan to double the capacity of its fleet by 2022. With the arrival of the new ships MSC Cruises will reach a capacity of about 80,000 passengers a day. 

The €700 million vessels will boast sea-level promenades that will circumnavigate the sides of the ships with outdoor deck spaces, shops and restaurants. They will also combine the best features of MSC’s previous vessels, including the highly-popular MSC Yacht Club, along with new technology that allows for greater efficiency including reduced fuel consumption and advanced safety systems that the company says go “beyond what is required by international regulations.”

In addition, both ships will feature expanded deck space and panoramic glass elevators.

Below the MSC Video of Both Classes; Seaside and Vista Class

Both ships are as-yet-unnamed. The first Seaside-class ship will debut in November of 2017, with MSC taking delivery of the second in May, 2018. MSC also holds the option for a third Seaside-class vessel with Fincantieri that could be exercised if the company wishes.

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MSC Orchestra's arrival in Singapore marks MSC Cruises' first foray into Asia

MSC Orchestra's arrival in Singapore marks MSC Cruises' first foray into Asia

MSC Orchestra sailing in Asian waters

MSC Cruises made its first foray into Asia Thursday, a region it described as ‘the new trendy area of cruising and the future area of growth’.

Welcoming some 200 passengers on board, MSC Cruises ceo Gianni Onorato said: ‘This is a historic moment in our company’s journey – the first time an MSC Cruises ship has called at the magnificent city of Singapore. In fact, all 13 ports of call on MSC Orchestra’s pioneering grand voyage are firsts for MSC Cruises.’

He added: ‘We are in Singapore to show how firmly we believe in the Asian market’s potential, which is only going to grow further in the foreseeable future.’

Speaking to Seatrade Insider, Onorato disclosed: ‘We will be deploying into Asia and need to decide when. We will perhaps go to North Asia with one of our newbuilds.’

Neeta Lachmandas, assistant chief executive, business development group, Singapore Tourism Board, also lauded the move, saying: ‘This development is testament to the potential of Southeast Asia,’ 

She said cruise is a high growth business with a lot of opportunities and this growth is led by Asia where now some 52 ships are deployed and including nine year-round deployments.

A Boston Consulting Group study had shown that 60% of spending is going to come from Asia by 2020, she said.

‘Southeast Asia is a cruising playground in its own right – with over 25,000 islands and diverse attractions ranging from cosmopolitan cities to pristine beaches and UNESCO Heritage sites. We are excited that travellers from all over the world will get to experience so much of Asia through MSC Orchestra,’ she added.

MSC Cruises executive director for emerging markets, Antonio Paradiso, said: ‘MSC Cruises has grown 800% since 2004. In 2014, we carried 40,000 guests per day on our fleet of 12 ships, and with up to seven new ships in two state-of-the-art prototypes coming online by 2022 we’ll double our current capacity. We used to carry 80,000 guests per year at the start and we’ll carry 80,000 guests a day at the end of our investment plan. This growth will unlock fresh opportunities, including new markets and regions, and untried itineraries.’

The 2,550-passenger MSC Orchestra is currently undertaking a 33-night voyage from Dubai to Perth, Australia. The ship will call 13 ports in eight countries across three continents. Singapore is the sixth port of call on the journey.

After an overnight stay, MSC Orchestra will sail for Benoa in Bali followed by four sea days before arriving in Cairns, Australia.

MSC Orchestra’s time Down Under covers maiden calls in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, before her final destination of Fremantle, the port serving Perth.

While MSC Orchestra marked the first time an MSC Cruises’ ship has called in Asia, the line has been carrying Asian cruisers for a period of time, particularly in the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf. ‘We are the biggest importers of Asian cruisers in the world,’ Onorato said.

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Britannia Facts

Britannia Facts

Britannia will sail on her maiden voyage in March 2015. © P&O Cruises.

Britannia is a cruise liner constructed by Fincantieri for the British cruise line Peninsular and Oriental (P&O) Cruises. P&O Cruises is owned by Carnival Group, the world's biggest cruise ship operator. The ship was christened in a naming ceremony held in September 2013. The estimated investment for the cruise vessel is £500m (approximately $825m).

The ship will sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to the Mediterranean in March 2015. She can accommodate a total of approximately 5,600 passengers. The inaugural itineraries include a voyage covering the Norwegian Fjords, the Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea.

The ship will be transferred to the Caribbean during winter, sailing for 15-night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados.

Construction of Carnival's cruise ship

The 400t keel was laid at a ceremony in May 2013 at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard. © P&O Cruises.

Carnival awarded the contract to build the new cruise ship to Fincantieri in June 2011. The first steel was cut in November 2012 and her 400t keel was laid in May 2013.

She was launched in Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in February 2014, and is scheduled to be delivered to her owner in March 2015.
Design details of the Britannia

Richmond International designed the interiors and all of the public areas including passenger cabins, restaurants and entertainment areas. An art collection worth over £1m is displayed onboard.
Britannia will measure 330m in length and 38.4m in width. The length between perpendiculars of the ship will be 306m and gross tonnage capacity will be 142,000t.

The cruise ship will feature 15 passenger decks comprising 1,819 passenger cabins, which will be categorised into suites, deluxe balcony cabins, outside and balcony cabins, inside cabins and 27 single inside cabins.

Entertainment and relaxation aboard Britannia

The most eye-catching and remarkable feature of Britannia's three tier atrium is the Starburst chandelier at the centre.

The ship features a studio, which is a multi-purpose venue for talks, guest speakers, cookery demos, films, plays, game shows and music recitals. The ship has a theatre with an impressive LED backdrop for shows with the slickest production values.

It has four pools including the main pool, featuring pop jets and plenty of space for sun bathing, as well as the Lido Pool, the Riviera Pool, Serenity Pool and Bar at the top deck, and a children's splash area. The top deck also features a range of services and relaxation treatments, such as the Oasis Spa and an alfresco spa terrace surrounded by private cabanas.


The three-tier Atrium featuring a Starbust chandelier. © P&O Cruises.

A separate space is also available to the guests for dance lessons, night clubs, film bars, a gym and an arena for short tennis, cricket or football games. The Live Lounge will host tribute acts, live bands and stage performances by singers during the day and at night will transform into a nightclub. Similarly, the Crystal Room hosts evening shows, such as cabaret and live music, and transforms into a dance venue at night.

Large facilities are present for children and teens, including a dedicated teens-only pool deck and the Reef children's club featuring a night nursery and activity zone.

Restaurants aboard the cruise ship

The new cruise liner has a variety of dining options, including 13 bars and 13 restaurants and cafés.
The ship features four deck bars and three signature restaurants. The Peninsular restaurant and the Meridian restaurant do not have fixed seating or dining times, whereas the Oriental restaurant offers club dining.



"The new cruise liner has a variety of dining options, including 13 bars and 13 restaurants and cafés."
Specialty dining venues include Lanlard Patisserie by Eric Lanlard, Sindhu by celebrity chef Atul Kochhar, the Blue Bar, the Limelight Club, the Java Café, and British and European cuisine by Marco Pierre White on special evenings.

The other ten eateries include the Glass House, serving wines by Olly Smith, and Grab & Go outlets providing sandwiches, healthy snacks, salads, grills, pizzas and more.

Another unique feature onboard the vessel is a cookery club, where guests can create their own cuisine with British celebrity chef James Martin.

Britannia's engine and propulsion system

Britannia runs on a diesel-electric propulsion system. The vessel will be fitted with five tier II-type engines supplied by MAN Diesel & Turbo. Two of the five engines are V48/60CR-type and have a power capacity of 14V each, whereas the remaining three are of 8L48/60CR-type. The engines will have a total power capacity of 62,400kW and can cruise at a speed of 22k.

Other features of the ship include two membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater systems supplied by Wärtsilä Hamworthy.

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Genting to buy Crystal Cruises and finance new ship

Crystal Serenity

Genting Hong Kong has agreed to acquire Crystal Cruises from NYK Line for $550 million in cash, and the buyer said that a third ship is in the works for the two-ship line. 

Crystal’s previous newbuild was the Crystal Serenity, delivered in 2003.

Genting’s CEO, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, said that Crystal’s current management and crew will remain.

“Genting will provide financial resources and proven expertise in innovative ship design to build a new ship that will set the highest standard in luxury cruise ships,” said Star Cruises’ CEO.

Genting is the parent of the largest cruise line in Asia. It also owns a piece of Norwegian Cruise Line. The Crystal acquisition is due to close in the second quarter.

Crystal President Edie Rodriguez said, “After 25 successful years with NYK, we are excited to have Genting Hong Kong as the new owner of Crystal Cruises. The proposed expansion of our fleet will present our loyal Crystal Society members and new luxury cruise guests with more itinerary options, accommodation choices and exceptional vacation experiences.”

Japanese shipping company NYK Line has owned Crystal since the brand was created in 1988. Crystal operates the 922‐passenger Crystal Symphony (launched in 1995) and the 1,070‐passenger Crystal Serenity (launched in 2003).

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Costa has unique ability to present Italy’s many faces

by Tom Stieghorst

Costa Cruises’ new promotional slogan, “Italy’s Finest,” seeks to associate the line with both quality and the home country where it has done business for the past 66 years.

That’s all well and good.  I wonder if it could do more, however, to exploit American curiosity about the many regions of Italy and the different experiences they offer.

Americans sophisticated enough to want to see Italy on Costa are also hungry to know more about the country’s regions and what distinguishes one from another. Costa could attract more U.S. guests by feeding that appetite with enrichment courses, excursions and tastings on its Mediterranean ships.Italy was only unified as a country in the 1860s. It comprises distinct regions, with cities that played important roles in the history of the Mediterranean, from Rome and Florence down to lesser-known but rewarding destinations such as Pisa, Lucca and Positano.

Cruises are uniquely positioned to jump from region to region. One night they can depart Campania and the next morning pull into port in Liguria. Each is Italian but has its own set of traditions.

The idea was suggested to me on a six-day trip on the Costa Diadema, the newest and largest Costa vessel ever at 3,724 passengers and 153,000 gross tons.

One morning we were in the agricultural south of Italy, departing from Naples. Two days later we were visiting the industrial north at a snow-covered vineyard in the Piedmont region. Each had its own distinct wines, cheeses and spices as well as terrain and climate differences.

It may be enough to sell Americans on the culture and food of Italy with the “Italy’s Finest” slogan. But Costa has been marketing Italy as its identity for a long time. When I started reporting on cruises in the 1980s, Costa had branded itself under the “Cruising Italian Style” banner.

Ruben Perez, general manager of Costa North America, said the line could probably be doing more to play up the regions of Italy, which include Tuscany, the Veneto area around Venice, the romantic Amalfi Coast and the rugged terrain of Sicily.

But, Perez said the line’s limited marketing budget for North America is probably best focused on the “Italy’s Finest” campaign.

Costa doesn’t have the easiest job convincing Americans to come to Europe on a ship that will immerse them in a different culture and language. The passenger sophisticated enough to do that is ripe for knowledge about the distinctive regions of this popular destination.

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First world cruise for Chinese guests departs Shanghai

Costa Atlantica departs Shanghai

By Tom Stieghorst 
Costa Atlantica departed Shanghai on March 1 on what Costa Cruises describes as the first world cruise by a ship specially for the Chinese market.

The voyage will span 86 days and 28 destinations in 18 countries. 

Costa Group CEO Michael Thamm was among the group of dignitaries on hand to see the ship off.

Given the Chinese preference for short itineraries, the launch of a world cruise is a particular milestone. The Atlantica will visit a number of destinations in the Mediterranean and the United States, including a three-day call in New York and a two-day stopover in Los Angeles.

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