More Ships For China – Other Cruise News: Norwegian’s “Feestyle Cruising” – Record Cruise Day For Dublin

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 27th July 2015

Royal Caribbean International’s 4,180-berth Quantum of the Seas is now the largest Chinese-based cruise ship

Carnival Corp & plc announced last week that it would soon have six ships based in China, three year-round and three on a seasonal basis. On top of this, a member of the 3,560-berth “Royal Princess” class, will be designed and built specifically for the Chinese market. Royal Caribbean Cruises, by comparison, will soon have five ships based in China. Generally larger than those sent by Carnival, they will include the 4,180-berth Quantum of the Seas (seen above in Hamburg) and Ovation of the Seas, as well as the 3,114-berth Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. With Norwegian Cruise Line having increased gratuity levels twice this year, as well as adding a room service charge and switching to a la carte pricing in many of its alternative restaurants, we have a look at its new version of “feestyle cruising.” And Dublin sees 13,000 cruise visitors in a day.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                          (See previous columns)

Three 100,000-tonners For Crystal – Other Cruise News: More Cuba News From Haimark – Norwegian’s A La Carte Pricing

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 20th July 2015

Three 100,000-ton all-suite all-balcony “Crystal Exclusive” class polar-capable ships, the first of which is due to enter service in late 2018, will carry 1,000 passengers each with a crew of 1,000, and include 48 private residences on the top deck.

Two weeks ago The Cruise Examiner disclosed that the Megastar Taurus was about to join Crystal Cruises, which it will now do in December as the Crystal Esprit. But now comes even bigger news. As well as introducing Crystal Yacht Cruises, the brand will inaugurate Crystal River Cruises as an upmarket all-inclusive river product and Crystal Luxury Air for air cruises. But that’s not all. The really big news is that Crystal is about to order three new all-inclusive ultra-luxury 1,000-berth 100,000-ton Crystal Exclusive class ships, starting in late 2018. Elsewhere, Haimark Line has announced that it will beat Carnival’s fathom brand to the re-commencement of cruise service from Florida to Cuba. Haimark begins service in February and fathom in May. And Norwegian is changing many of its alternative dining venues to a la carte pricing.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                            (See previous columns)

Cuba Cruise Market To Expand In 2016 – Other Cruise News: East Coast Changes At Holland America

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 13th July 2015

Last week saw two major announcements that will affect the Cuba cruise busines not only in 2016, but also for years to come. The first came from MSC Cruises, which announced that it would be basing its 1,756-berth MSC Opera (above) at Havana from December until April 2016, while the second was an announcement by Carnival Corp & plc that fathom’s 710-berth Adonia would be offering fortnightly 7-night sailings from Miami to Cuba. Further north, not only Bermuda, but also Quebec suffered in a planned shuffle by Holland America Line.
FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                           (See previous columns)

The End Of Direct Cargo-Passenger Service Between the UK and Hong Kong – With New Alternative Routes Via Nearby Yantian

With CMA CGM’s French Asia Line 1 dropping its calls in Hong Kong, there will no longer be any direct route betwen Southampton and Hong Kong. And, for the moment, with no other carrier taking passengers to Hong Kong, there will no longer be a direct UK to Hong Kong link.

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Now, Southampton to Yantian, near Hong Kong, by French Asia Line 1 is 38 days and Le Havre to Yantian 30 days (Malta to Yantian is 24 days).

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Passengers returning from Hong Kong will now have to embark in the nearby Shenzhen ports of Yantian (20 miles away) or Chiwan (22 miles). For example, travellers can board in Yantian for a 24-day trip with French Asia Line 3 to Le Havre, with a call at Port Kelang en route. An alternative for direct return to the UK is to board French Asia Line 1 in Yantian for the 26-day voyage back to Southampton via Port Kelang and Algeciras.

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These changes have been brought about because of schedule adjustments in a cooperation agreement with China Shipping Container Lines and the United Arab Shipping Company, together with the introduction to the China trade of ultra large container ships (ULCCs) of 11,000 to 16,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) container capacity.

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Hong Kong continues to offer several services to the Americas, however, both North and South, as well as South Africa and Australasia.

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For further details on sailing to and from Hong Kong or nearby ports please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail cruisepeopleltd@aol.com..

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Monfalcone Shipyard Shut For Almost A Week – A New Ship For Hurtigruten – Crystal’s New Expedition Ship?

THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com by Kevin Griffin

The Cruise Examiner for 6th July 2015

Will Star Cruises’ little 72-berth MegaStar Taurus join the newly-acquired Crystal Cruises fleet under a new name?

Last week saw the closure of Fincantieri’s main shipyard at Monfalcone due to a court order seizing certain portions of the yard used to store waste products. A government decree was then passed on Friday so that work can recommence at the yard, which is building two large cruise ships for Carnival and Princess plus the first of its new Seaside class for MSC. Meanwhile, Hurtigruten has acquired a passenger vessel in Portugal that it intends to convert to an expedition ship and unconfirmed rumours from Singapore have Star Cruises’ luxury small ship Megastar Taurus about to join the Crystal fleet.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                           (See previous columns)

One-Time Only Singapore-to-Sydney Sailing November 22, 2015, On Board SuperStar Virgo, Starting at £1,325 per person Cruise Only

Several container ships that used to carry passengers between Singapore and Australia, as well as New Zealand ports, including the Hebe and the Praha, have recently been transferred elsewhere. The result is that overland travellers must now head for Hong Kong, China or Tawain to catch the CMA CGM Hugo in order to sail to Australia.

Relief is in sight in the fourth quarter of this year, however, as Star Cruises is scheduling a once-only voyage from Singapore to Sydney this November by the SuperStar Virgo (shown above), with arrival at Sydney set for Wednesday, December 9, well in time for Christnas. The full itinerary for this cruise follows (no part voyages are available):

Date             Port              Times
22-Nov-15 Sail from Singapore 2000
24-Nov-15 Jakarta (Tanjung Priok) 0800-2000
25-Nov-15 Cruising Krakatoa 0400-0600
28-Nov-15 Geraldton, WA 1100-1900
29-Nov-30 Fremantle, WA 0800-1800
30-Nov-15 Albany, WA 1300-2100
03-Dec-15 Adelaide 0800-2200
05-Dec-15 Melbourne arrives 0800
06-Dec-15 Melbourne sails 0500
07-Dec-15 Tasmania 0900-2300
09-Dec-15 Arrives Sydney 0700

Fares (including port charges) 

17 Nights Singapore to Sydney 
Inside         £1,325 per person double, £1,853 single
Outside      £1,640 per person double, £2,325 single
Balcony      £1,890 per person double, £2,700 single

HOW TO BOOK

If you’re travelling overland and want to cross the seas to Australia, please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail  cruisepeopleltd@aol.com.

Summer Down Under By SuperStar Virgo – This November, Hong Kong to Sydney From £2,965 or Singapore to Sydney From £2,785

Star Cruises has announced that its flagship, the SuperStar Virgo (pictured above), will depart from Hong Kong on November 15 and Singapore on November 22 on an epic 48-day voyage through ports in Southeast Asia and Australia to Sydney.

At 75,338 tons and with 1,870 berths, the SuperStar Virgo is similar in size to the former Queen Elizabeth 2, and with sister ship SuperStar Leo (now Norwegian Spirit) was one of the world’s first Freestyle ships with mutliple bars and restaurants.

PACKAGES

As part of this voyage and in conjunction with cruise supplier Cruiseco, we are offering two line voyages,one from Hong Kong to Sydney on November 15, and one from Singapore to Sydney on November 22, on the UK market.

Hong Kong to Sydney
November 15, 2015, with flights ex-UK the 13th
Including return flights to the UK and post-cruise accommodation in Sydney
Fares from £2,965 per person twin share

Singapore to Sydney
November 22, 2015, with flights ex-UK the 20th
Including return flights to the UK and pre- & post-cruise accommodation
Fares from £2,785 per person twin share

ONBOARD PROMOTION

Bonus Dining packages, beverage packages and on-board credits are available dependant on cruise length. For these two packages guests can choose either dining OR beverage package for all cabin categories. 

HOW TO BOOK

Please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail  cruisepeopleltd@aol.com. If you’re travelling overland and need to span the sea please also call for our passage-only fares.