Cruise in Brief
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Norwegian Cruise Line has ordered an additional two new Breakaway-Plus cruise ships. The new ships will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany that will delivered in the second quarter of 2018 and the fourth quarter of 2019. Each ship will have 4, 200 passenger berths, with the deal worth EUR1.6 billion under contract price. For the full story head here.
Norwegian Cruise Line has also become the latest cruise line to ban smoking on balconies. From November smokes will only be able to smoke outside or in the casino, and then only if they are playing. On Norwegian Getaway and Breakaway guests will be able to smoke on The Waterfront but not near dining areas, while smoking is also allowed in select spaces on the open deck. Carnival Cruise Lines announced a smoking ban on balconies last week.
Meanwhile, work on Regent Seven Sea Cruises’ new ship started in the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa this week. A popped Krug Grande Cuvee magnum marked the start of the steel cut on Tuesday which will form part of the owner’s suite on the ship. RSSC has said the ship will set a benchmark in luxury when it arrives in summer 2016, with the suite to set a ‘hallmark for the superior level of elegance’. For full story head here.
In Italy, operations have started on raising the Costa Concordia ship off the coast of Giglio. The ship is slowly being lifted by pumping air into tanks attached to its hull, having been resting on platforms since being hauled upright in September. The refloating is expected to take six or seven days, with the ship to then be towed to Genoa where it will be scrapped. The BBC reported that a search for the body of Russel Rebello, whose body was not recovered, would be carried out when it reaches the dock.
Cunard has reported a market boost in bookings following the end of the World Cup. The cruise line reported a 36% increase in bookings on Monday and Tuesday this week compared to the same days last week, with its travel agent partners also seeing a boost. Bookings at the cruise line have been helped by its Summer Sale running throughout this month.
Holland America Line is offering agents the chance to earn vouchers with 2015 bookings. Agents can earn a £10 Love2Shop voucher for every 2015 booking made in July, to mark the launch of its new 2015 summer cruise brochure. Agents must email the client booking number and details to salessupport@hollandamerica.co.uk.
MSC Cruises has launched fly-cruise itineraries for Caribbean sailings in winter 2015/16. The itineraries are onboard MSC Divina which will sail from Miami from November 2015, alongside MSC Orchestra sailing from Barbados with 14-night Eastern Caribbean cruises. MSC Cruises’ executive director UK & Ireland Giles Hawke said: “MSC Cruises made its debut in the Caribbean in November 2013 and we have already made a significant impact on the market. UK cruisers have been great supporters of our Miami itineraries.”
Carnival Cruise Lines has signed an exclusive agreement with Tampa-based Cigar City Brewing to offer its craft beers on all its Florida-based ships. This week two ales were introduced on the 13 Carnival ships that sail from Florida.
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