CARNIVAL MAGIC DELIVERED

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Carnival Cruise Lines TO-day accepted delivery of the corporation’s 100th ship, the Carnival Magic, in ceremonies at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where the vessel was built.           

In recognition of this achievement, on April 29 all guests sailing aboard Carnival Corporation & plc’s 100 ships will enjoy a complimentary champagne toast at dinner to commemorate this historic and unprecedented milestone.  All told, more than 227,000 passengers across the company’s 10 cruise brands will participate in the toast, believed to be the largest celebration of its kind at sea.

Following the traditional maritime handover ceremony in Italy, Carnival Magic will debut on May 1 with a nine-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona.

Prior to the departure of her inaugural voyage, the 130,000-ton vessel will be christened  by  Lindsey Wilkerson, a former patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who now serves as an employee and ambassador of the organization. The choice of Ms Wilkerson as sponsor is a tribute to Carnival’s ongoing partnership with St. Jude, one of the world’s premier centres for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases.            

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Magic will introduce a host of innovations, including the RedFrog Pub, a colourful Caribbean-inspired watering hole featuring its own private label draught beer; Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian restaurant that brings the heritage of Carnival’s captains to the table; and SportSquare, an expansive open-air recreation complex with the first ropes course and outdoor fitness area at sea.

Other features include a WaterWorks aqua park with a 312-foot-long spiral water slide and other attractions; The Lanai, a wraparound promenade with an outdoor barbeque area and whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides; and Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue.

“With a combination of exciting new features such as the RedFrog Pub, SportSquare and Cucina del Capitano and other popular ‘Fun Ship’ amenities, Carnival Magic epitomizes our company’s continued commitment to providing our guests with fun, memorable vacations at an incredible value,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines’ president and CEO.

Added Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc’s chairman and CEO, “The delivery of a new cruise ship to one of our brands is always a proud and exciting moment,” said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.  “It is particularly meaningful that delivery of Carnival Corporation & plc’s 100th ship is for the Carnival Cruise Lines brand, which provided the foundation upon which Carnival Corporation & plc was established and, ultimately, grew into the largest cruise operator in the world with 10 global brands.”            

Following the May 1 inaugural voyage from Venice, Carnival Magic will sail a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean departures from Barcelona through Oct. 16, then reposition to Galveston, Texas, for year-round seven-day Caribbean departures beginning Nov. 14, becoming the largest ship ever based at the port year-round.

For additional information and reservations in Carnival Magic or any other of the line’s ships, contact The Cruise People, Ltd. on 1-800-961-5536.

LiveJournal Tags: Carnival Magic

New Cunard Commodore

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Captain Christopher Rynd has been appointed Commodore of the Cunard fleet – RMS Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. Captain Rynd assumes the title until recently held by Commodore Bernard Warner who retired from the company on 19 April 2011.

Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, said:
“I must put on record our appreciation for the ‘marvellous’ contribution that Bernie made to Cunard Line. We wish him and his family all the best for his retirement.”

Captain Rynd joined Cunard in 2005 when he took command of Queen Elizabeth 2. While in QE2, he came to appreciate Cunard’s distinctive product and traditions. Since then he has commanded both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. He took Queen Mary 2 on her Maiden World Voyage and attended  Queen Victoria during her construction and sea trials and later served as her master.

Peter Shanks:

“I am delighted with the appointment of Captain Rynd as Commodore of Cunard Line and am sure that many of our regular guests will be as pleased as I and will join me in congratulating him on this notable achievement”.

Captain Rynd was born in New Zealand and grew up in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and in the islands of Fiji and Samoa of the tropical South Pacific. He began his sea career in 1970 at the age of 17 in New Zealand. The influence of his father and upbringing helped in this choice.

After completing his cadetship, he joined his first passenger liner, P&O’s Oronsay. His early sea days were in P&O vessels on routes between Australia and the UK which also included cruising. Since then, most of his career has been in passenger cruise ships on worldwide itineraries. Additionally Captain Rynd expanded his experience with eight years as a reserve officer in the Royal Navy. He gained his qualification as Master in London in 1979. During his time with P&O and Princess Cruises he commanded Royal Princess, Regal Princess, the first and second Pacific Princess, Pacific Sky and Sapphire Princess.

He was elected a Fellow of the Nautical Institute, the international professional body for maritime professionals, in 2008 and he took time out in 2009 / 2010 to work as a coach under the auspices of the Company’s training facility, ‘CSmart’, in the Netherlands. This was an opportunity to travel in ships across the corporate fleets and be involved in the introduction of new procedures that enhance the safe operations in navigating ships.

Captain Rynd and his Australian wife, Julie, have three children who are now young adults, which allows Julie to accompany her husband at sea most of the time. When not at sea they spend time in both Britain and Australia, but visit New Zealand each year to hike and fish trout.

LiveJournal Tags: Commodore Rynd

Silversea to Rename Expedition Ship

Image via Wikipedia Prince Albert II and Tracy Mattes at the Palace in Monaco

 

New name: Silver Explorer

Silversea Cruises to-day oddly announced plans to change the name of  Prince Albert II, its expedition ship, to Silver Explorer. The change will occur later this month while the vessel is in dry dock at the Lisnave shipyard in Setubal, Portugal, undergoing routine maintenance prior to commencing a summer programme of Northern Europe and Arctic voyages.

Manfredi Lefebvre, Silversea’s chairman, said: "Our expansion into adventure travel has turned out quite successful and we have to prepare for the possibility of adding more ships. To reinforce the Silversea luxury brand image for the expedition segment, we decided to change the name of our first expedition ship to Silver Explorer and anticipate any future expedition ships will bear similar names that evoke a sense of luxurious adventure."

Mr. Lefebvre added: "It has been an absolute privilege to have a ship in our fleet named in tribute to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. We will continue to honour his legacy of exploration and environmental conservation through our support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and look forward to hosting future onboard fundraising events to benefit the Foundation’s projects." 

The Cruise People, Ltd. wonders if there is more here than meets the eye.

According to the press release Silversea is committed to raising awareness of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which is dedicated to the protection of the global environment. Its focus is on three major challenges: climate change and developing renewable energies; the loss of biodiversity; improving universal access to clean water and fighting desertification.

Silver Explorer offers full-scale exploring from an ultra-luxury base at sea, in true Silversea style. With the largest average size accommodation of any expedition ship, passengers enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodation (many suites feature French balconies or large private verandas), butler service, gourmet cuisine, warm hospitality and personalised service (with a crew-to-guest ratio of nearly one to one), and Silversea’s selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, bottled water, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, 24-hour room service, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet and all gratuities. 

The Lloyd’s Register 1A ice-rated vessel explores the world from top to bottom, including Central and South America and Africa.

LiveJournal Tags: Prince Albert II,Silver Explorer

New West Coast to Mediterranean Transatlantic Service

by thecruisepeople

The Cruise People Ltd is pleased to announce a second cargo-passenger service between the Mediterranean and the West Coast of North America with the introduction of MSC Lausanne onto a route between Italy, Panama, California, Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest.

With a round voyage of 63 days there will be a sailing every nine weeks on this route, with calls at Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), La Spezia and Valencia in the Mediterranean, Cristobal and Balboa in Panama, then Long Beach, Oakland, Vancouver, Seattle and return to Naples by way of Oakland, Long Beach, Balboa, Cristobal and Gioia Tauro in Italy.

Owners lounge MSC Lausanne, bedroom in background

The German-flag MSC Lausanne is owned by NSB, and featuring three double cabins, she can carry up to six passengers on her cross-Atlantic voyages. Bookings are possible between your choice of ports with fare charged for the number of days spent on board.

The other West Coast service is operated by Leonhardt & Blumberg using the 12-passenger  Hansa Bremen and Hansa Magdeburg on a route between the West Coast and the UK and Continent. Calls are made at Tilbury, Hamburg, Le Havre, Cartagena, the Panama Canal, Puerto Quetzal, Lazaro Cardenas, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Vancouver and then back to Tilbury via Oakland, Long Beach, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Quetzal, the Panama Canal, Cartagena,Tanger Med and Rotterdam. Sailings are offered almost monthly on this route, with a round voyage time of about 70 days.

Puffins, Guillemots and Razor Bills

Image via T. Müller Wikipedia

A birder’s paradise, a rare opportunity, a fantastic spectacle – all appropriate phrases to describe the west coast of Norway during the spring movement of millions of birds.  Coming on the heels of “Lundkommardagen” (Puffins Day), when a black cloud of puffins descend on their Spring breeding grounds on Lovund, Hurtigruten’s “Birds of the Nordic Coast” sailing is a true ornithological event, departing Kirkenes on May 20, 2011, and heading south to Bergen.  A “Bird Watching Safari” in the North Cape, learning to photograph birds near Tromsø, a “Sea Eagle Safari” near Svolvœr, and a visit to the UNESCO-listed Vega Archipelago, home to 228 species of birds, are just some of the possible highlights on the voyage.  The six-day route follows the traditional fjord-indented Norwegian Coastal Voyage, stopping at 34 ports along the way.  Prices range from US$1,683 to $4,417 per person, double.

Lectures and stellar bird-watching opportunities are ever-present – as are the many species such as puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, Arctic skuas, northern fulmars, Northern gannets, and sea eagles.  Passengers have the opportunity to view 30,000 nesting pairs of puffins, known for their orange bills and feet, on the island of Lovund, while in Honningsvåg an optional excursion heads of to the North Cape to see gannets and more.  An optional Midnight Sun trip in Tromsø takes guests to Prestvannet, a small lake that serves as home to an assortment of birds, including the red-throated loon.  A visit to the historic Viking grounds of Lake Laugen offers a look at the colourful Slavonian Grebe and Velvet scoter, and while en route to Trollfjord, an optional side trip allows for close up views of the majestic White-tailed Sea Eagle as they swoop in to catch fish thrown to them by the crew.  On-board lectures, given by experts, provide a better understanding of the birds and the history of their migration.  Of course, there is also plenty of time to also enjoy the many ports as well as stunning views along Norway’s 1,250-mile west coast. 

Sailing aboard Hurtigruten ships means large, comfortable lounges with panoramic windows and wonderful views from large outdoor decks; open seating for meals; fresh seasonal ingredients, plenty of incredible seafood and a comprehensive (expensive) wine list; multilingual tour directors; comfortable cabins – from the smaller inside accommodations to the large outside suites with private balconies; and a friendly and well-informed crew, ready to offer assistance and learned suggestions.

Additional information on all of these adventures, as well as brochures and reservations, can be obtained from The Cruise People, Ltd 1-800-961-5536, fax 1-888-759-2990 or cruise@thecruisepeople.ca

WestJet fleet not part of FAA inspection

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An airworthiness directive was issued by the US Federal Aviation Authority in light of the recent depressurisation incident caused by a fuselage rupture on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 on April 1.

The directive asks operators of certain B737-300/-400/-500 series airplanes at or above 30 000 flight cycles (take-offs and landings) to inspect certain lap joints on the fuselage.

The AD does not require any inspections on Boeing Next Generation 737 aircraft. WestJet’s fleet of 94 Boeing 737s (13 737-600s, 67 737-700s, and 14 737-800s) entirely comprises Next Generation aircraft. The lap joint design on the Next-Generation series differs from that of the older generation aircraft and is not affected by this event.

LiveJournal Tags: WestJet,Boeing,737