Tour-Smart Limited

Hamburg, 21 August 2015. Great opportunities for all maritime suppliers – Seatrade Europe, the leading European cruise and river cruise convention, offers a Suppliers’ Workshop with the senior buyers at Meyer Werft, Neptun and Meyer Turku. The workshop is particularly interesting for manufacturers and suppliers in the hotel and restaurant equipment and fitting sectors, in kitchen equipment, laundry machines, locking systems, light & sound, and IT. Other target groups are suppliers of complete concepts for restaurants, theatre and similar systems on board. Seatrade Europe Cruise & River Cruise Convention will be held at the Hamburg Messe site from 9 to 11 September 2015.

Good prospects for equipment suppliers
The order books of many European cruise ship building yards are well filled. At present they comprise 29 new ships for the 2015 to 2018 period. Seven new cruise ships will enter into service before the end of 2015, and Meyer Werft already has further orders. The US based Carnival Group will have 9 new cruise ships built for its various markets from 2019 to 2022. Five of these billion-dollar orders go to Fincantieri in Italy, four to Meyer Werft in Germany and Finland. And there are also orders from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC. All of these ships will need to be equipped and fitted out – giving great opportunities for maritime equipment suppliers to benefit from this boom market. In 2014, cruise ship companies spent EUR 6.97 billion* on equipment, services and provisions for their vessels in Europe alone – and the upward trend continues.
(*Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Economies of Europe, 2015 Edition).

Suppliers’ Workshop – new fields of business for companies
The workshop will be held on the second day of the Seatrade Europe convention, on 10 September 2015, starting with an introduction by the shipbuilding companies Meyer Werft and Neptun Werft, a river cruise vessel specialist. “The shipyards are very keen to find good suppliers of lighting equipment, LEDs and furniture. They are particularly interested in companies that specialise in interior fittings,” says Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. “The Suppliers’ Workshop at Seatrade Europe gives a unique platform, especially for newcomers who have not previously operated in this market, and outstanding opportunities to talk to the real decision makers right from the start”.

Reliable partners
As a rule, the completion of a cruise ship at Meyer Werft involves up to 800 suppliers. Partners at regional, national and international level have a key role to play. Meyer Werft currently sources supplies worth about EUR 200 million per annum from the region, in a radius of about 150 kilometres around the yard in Papenburg, Emsland. It is also important to maintain a functioning network of suppliers from beyond the region and at international level. “Nowadays we have to think globally to be successful,” says Ralf Sempf, Head of Materials Management/Purchasing at Meyer Werft. “We source some 25% of our purchase volume from outside of Germany, mainly from other European countries,” he adds.

Interested companies can now register at www.seatrade-europe.com/supplier-workshop to secure their place at the workshop.

About Seatrade Europe:
Seatrade Europe, the leading European cruise and river cruise convention, will be held at the heart of Hamburg, the great port city on the River Elbe. This is where the industry decision makers and insiders will meet to hold discussions, set new trends, and network. The exhibitors include shipyards, ship outfitters and equipment suppliers, food and beverage suppliers, classification companies, cruise ports and ship brokers. Operating a cruise ship is a highly complex business, calling for mastery of logistics – including mini-hospitals and large-scale kitchens, waste disposal systems and entertainment equipment. The specialist conference that takes place in parallel features outstanding speakers on the key topics of current importance to the industry. Seatrade Europe will be held from 9 to 11 September 2015. For more information on Seatrade Europe 2015, please visit www.seatrade-europe.com 

The cruise ship Marco Polo, formerly named Aleksandr Pushkin, owned by Cruise & Maritime Voyages, docked in Saguenay on Saturday, August 15, 2015. The Saguenay port of call offered an extra special reception to celebrate the ship's 50th anniversary. Local residents and visitors alike showed their support with a warm welcome for the captain and dignitaries. Fifty blueberry pies were offered and beautifully presented by fifty individuals proudly dressed in Saguenay's colors. Attendees had the opportunity to have their picture taken in front of Saguenay's sculpted letters by a professional photographer. The Marco Polo, carrying 848 passengers, mostly from Britain, and the 356 crew members, will dock once again in Saguenay on September 26, 2015.

Getting tucked in.

Still going strong even after 50 years!

The Marco Polo is no stranger to the fjord's waters; during the 70’s while flying the Soviet flag, the Aleksandr Pushkin graced the Baie des Ha! Ha! with its presence. Over the past 50 years, it’s sailed the seven seas and every ocean worldwide, visiting every continent from the Arctic to Antarctica. This vessel is truly embedded within the maritime history of the St. Lawrence and Saguenay.
 

The Saguenay port of call accommodates 38 port visits over a 33-day period for the 2015 season. Over 50,000 passengers and crew members will be welcomed in Saguenay. Saguenay is proud to be among the must-see port destinations along the St. Lawrence River. For more information about cruising the super St. Lawrence please visit www.croisieresaintlaurent.com 
 

*   *   *

When Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet came together for the first time ever – in Bergen – on 28th July 2015. 

 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is celebrating an historic coming together of its fleet of four ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – in Bergen, Norway on 28th July 2015. This ‘4 Bs in Bergen’ event – named after the initial letter of each of the four Fred. Olsen ships – was the first time ever that the fleet has converged in one place, anywhere in the world.

Fred. Olsen's four ships sailed into the Bergen harbour at just before 8am in brilliant sunshine, and 4,000 lucky guests were treated to spectacular views of the entire fleet as they entered in formation and took up their positions in the Port. Flagship Balmoral was berthed at Bontelabo Pier, sister ships Boudicca and Black Watch at Skolten Pier and Braemar at Festningskaien Pier, nearest to the city centre.

Speaking at the event, Mike Rodwell, Managing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“Today has been a very special day for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. We were delighted to be joined by Fred. Olsen and Fred. Olsen Jnr, our Chairman, at the Port of Bergen today, and it was with great pride that the fifth and sixth generations of our company looked upon their cruise fleet, joined together for the very first time.

"It is testament to our incredible crews that we were able to lay on such an enjoyable array of festivities and activities for our guests to participate in throughout the day, and there has been a very special atmosphere in the beautiful city of Bergen today.

"We are committed to the city of Bergen – known as the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ – on our Norwegian cruise itineraries. The Olsen association with Bergen can be traced way back to the 19th Century and we would like to thank the Port and the city of Bergen for making us so very welcome today."

Captain Victor Stoica, Master of Balmoral, said: “Today was a memorable event in the history of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and, along with all crew here on board Balmoral, I feel honoured to have been part of it. "There has been an electric atmosphere on board since we sailed from Southampton and our guests have enjoyed every single second of this incredible experience. "As Captain of Balmoral, I am very proud of the efforts from each and every crewmember and office personnel, who have worked tirelessly in creating an event that will be talked about for years to come.”

‎Fred. Olsen's four ships departed from Bergen in convoy at 6pm, and made a majestic exit from the harbour in a 'diamond' formation, led by a fire tug boat ceremoniously spraying its water cannons.

‎The festivities on the day included ‎a Norwegian-themed marching band and drummers on the quayside, and guests were welcomed to Bergen by locals in national costume. A fantastic schedule of onboard entertainment featured a lively Country Fayre with games, live bands and deck parties. Guests enjoyed complimentary drinks and specially-created Norwegian dishes, such as homemade gravadlax ‎and cloudberry pie. Guests were also entertained by talented opera singer Anthony Stewart-Lloyd, who performed a show on each ship‎ - something that has not been done before across the Fred. Olsen fleet.

‎To celebrate this special one-off event, guests had the chance to visit all four ships as they were berthed along the quayside‎, and were invited to enjoy the different range of activities taking place across the fleet, which were all unique to each individual ship.

An action-packed inter-ship 'Tug of War' took place at Festningskaien Pier, with vocal encouragement from guests and the Fred. Olsen 'cheerleaders' from each ship; ‎the two male and female teams from Braemar were victorious.

Guests could also choose to participate in a Treasure Hunt, where they were tasked with locating six historical locations within the city, as well as enjoying a beautiful walk in such scenic surroundings!

In addition, there were a range of specially-themed '4 Bs in Bergen' shore excursions, including a walking tour, which visited the Bergenhus Fortress, historic Bryggen and Ole Bull statue, a helicopter tour to see all four ships from above, and a Mount Fløyen funicular tour, with the emphasis on the view of the ships from the impressive summit‎.

Fred. Olsen is renowned for its proud Norwegian heritage. The Fred. Olsen Company originated in the small village of Hvitsten, outside Oslo, in 1848, when three Olsen brothers – Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas – bought their first ships and began an international shipping company. Now into the fifth generation of the family, there is no better way to experience all the many wonders that Norway has to offer than on a Fred. Olsen cruise.

Beginning with the introduction of the new Norwegian Escape in October, menus in Norwegian Cruise Line’s La Cucina, Le Bistro, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Bayamo, a new restaurant, will be priced a la carte. But Moderno Churrascaria and Teppanyaki will retain cover charges of $19.95 and $29.95, respectively, as will entertainment dining packages.

The Norwegian Getaway

 

Norwegian plans to roll out a la carte dining fleet-wide on January 1, 2016, while Ocean Blue on the Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway will also switch to a la carte pricing in October.

Instead of a fixed cost of $29.99 for the line’s signature Cagney’s Steakhouse, for example, passengers will pay $4.99 to $7.95 for an appetizer and $17.99 to $29.99 for a main course, the line says.

Desserts will be extraNew menu additions at Le Bistro will include bouillabaisse and pan-seared jumbo bay scallops, starting at $15.99 each La Cucina will offer main dishes like osso buco alla Milanese or pan-seared sea bass filet at $12.99 each.

Guests who purchase Norwegian specialty dining packages can dine at La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney’s at no additional charge, but Bayamo will still carry a $15 fee.

Norwegian’s main dining rooms, the cafeteria, O’Sheehan’s and all of the Asian venues except Teppanyaki and Wasabi will remain complimentary.

Apart from a few specialty restaurants and grills on some of the great ocean liners of a century ago, it is thought that the last time a la carte has been applied at sea was in the 1920s.
 

It is understood from sources within the cruise industry that this comes on top of Norwegian Cruise Line increasing gratuity levels twice this year, as well as adding a room service charge.