SeaDream Yacht Club Completes Shore Power Upgrade

SeaDream Yacht Club Completes Shore Power Upgrade

SeaDream Yacht Club has equipped its entire fleet with shore power connectivity.

Both SeaDream vessels can now turn off their engines and reduce emissions to zero while in ports with shore power facilities, the company said in a statement. 

“This is an important milestone and a significant step in our journey to more sustainable cruising,” said Andreas Brynestad of SeaDream Yacht Club.

The SeaDream II completed the upgrade last fall, while the SeaDream I underwent the upgrade recently at Naval Rocha Yard in Lisbon, Portugal.

During the summer of 2024, both yachts will explore the Mediterranean, including the Greek Isles and the French and Italian Rivieras, before heading to the Caribbean for the 2024-25 winter season.

Carnival Corporation is upgrading its ships’ engines and technical systems to improve energy efficiency

Carnival Corporation is upgrading its ships’ engines and technical systems to improve energy efficiency

The "service power packages" upgrades will include ongoing installations throughout 2023 on ships belonging to the company’s nine brands – Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Australia, Costa Cruises, Aida Cruises, P&O Cruises and Cunard.

 

Developed over the last six years and tailored to each vessel, upgrades to save energy include investments in variable speed drives and on-demand automation and controls, cooling enhancements, energy-saving LED lighting and more efficient heating and ventilation systems.

 

Carnival estimates the programme will deliver an average of 5-10% fuel savings per ship and is expected to reduce fleet-wide greenhouse gas emissions by more than 500,000 metric tons each year.

 

The upgrades will also result in around $150 million in fuel cost savings per year.

Carnival’s chief maritime officer Bill Burke said: “Based on our improved fleet composition, including adding six industry-leading LNG-powered ships, and our previous investments to increase efficiency and reduce emissions, our absolute carbon emissions peaked in 2011 despite significant capacity growth over the past decade.”

 

“These tailored service power packages further build on those efforts as part of our comprehensive approach to sustainability.”

 

The fleet-wide enhancements are part of Carnival’s energy efficiency investment programme. The company has committed to reducing carbon emission intensity by 20% from its 2019 baseline by 2030, supporting its efforts to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050.

Seven Seas Navigator sets sail with a new look

Larger tables in suites’ sitting areas are meant to accommodate in-room dining. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada

The Seven Seas Navigator has been sailing for about two weeks after undergoing a renovation, now boasting an all-new Compass Rose dining room, reception area upgrades and upgraded suites.

Michal Jackiewicz — part owner of Tillberg Design, which was responsible for the renovations of all Navigator’s public spaces (the suites were done internally) — said he views the renovation of Compass Rose as the biggest accomplishment of the renovation.

Compass Rose is Navigator’s flagship restaurant that seats 384. The space was stripped down to its steel bones and redesigned, Jackiewicz said. 

The Compass Rose restaurant was completely redone. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada

It’s now a bright, open space that features customizable lighting (Jackiewicz prefers a shade of warm white) and handmade crystal chandeliers. The tables are adorned with Versace chargers and plates.

Jason Montague, Regent Seven Seas Cruises' president and COO, said, “When I walked into Compass Rose, I was blown away.” 

The reception area also got a reboot with contemporary design elements. While Jackiewicz said some structural elements were kept, there is a new stone floor and new fronts and countertops for desks. He said it has a welcoming effect.

The Navigator’s former smoking lounge was transformed into the new library. With a faux fireplace, it is meant to invite in guests, Jackiewicz said. A blank section on one of the walls awaits some artwork, which Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio will likely pick himself, as he has on so many of the company’s other ships. 

La Veranda, the Galileo Lounge and the Navigator Lounge/Coffee Connection also were upgraded. Galileo’s patrons will enjoy a centered stage and all new furniture. The Navigator Lunge/Coffee Connection features cream-colored draperies and chairs, and white marble tables with copper accents.

The Navigator suite, along with the penthouse, concierge and deluxe suites (which comprise the largest selection of suites onboard), were all redone. Structurally, their configuration is the same, but they feature new headboards, mattresses and linens as well as new furniture, carpets and high-definition televisions. Each room has a new Illy espresso machine.  Category C suites and above feature Hermes toiletries; the rest have L’Occitane. 

The Navigator's library is now in the spot previously occupied by the smoking lounge. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada

Also, the Navigator is showcasing some new entertainment. Four singers, two singer-dancers and six dancers perform a variety of shows, including “The Great American Song Factory” and “The Broadway Cabaret.”

This summer, the Navigator will sail in the Mediterranean, followed by South Africa this fall. Next year, it will embark on Regent’s first world cruise in six years, beginning and ending in Miami (for a total of 128 days, six continents, 31 countries and 62 ports).

In January, Regent announced a $125 million refurbishment, which started with the Navigator. The Voyager will undergo renovations later this year, with Mariner to follow next spring. The program, Regent has said, will raise its entire fleet to the same style as the upcoming Explorer, which Regent has touted as the “world’s most luxurious cruise ship.” The Explorer will start sailing in July.

Queen Victoria Cruise Ship To Get Multi-Million Upgrade

Cunard Line is continuing its fleet upgrade with a multi-million refurbishment scheduled for January 2015.

The Queen Victoria will have a dry-dock at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. The shipyard is also the same place where sister ship Queen Elizabeth recently had its upgrade.

Queen Victoria’s multi-million dollar refit will ensure this much-loved ship remains in tip-top condition for her World Cruise in 2015 and beyond, said David Dingle, CEO for Cunard Line.

The refurbishment will include 9 brand new single staterooms which will offer an even wider range for cruisers sailing single. More shade will be offered by new sun awnings near the ships open deck pool. Another large part of the refit will be new environmentally friendly filters for the ships propulsion systems.

When a cruise ship gets a major upgrade it usually includes all the hotel spaces which the Queen Victoria will receive. New carpets and flat TV’s will be installed to freshen up the vessel. Also hotel departments including the gift shops will get a new fine jewellery and watches sections along with a new layout.

Queen Victoria’s dry-dock was originally scheduled for December 2015 but due to a propulsion unit bearing problem the dry-dock has had to be brought forward to January 2015. The propulsion issue has caused Cunard to cancel two cruises in January, a 12-day cruise to the Canaries departing January 3rd and a five-day cruise to Amsterdam departing January 15th. Passengers booked on those cruises have been informed and the cruise line is offering a $175 onboard credit. Passengers can choose another cruise or get a full refund of their booking.

While we are sorry to be cancelling the two cruises, we are looking forward to welcoming all those affected back aboard a Cunard ship in the near future, perhaps on Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth, both of which will be sailing in 2015 fresh from their make overs, Dingle said.

The Queen Victoria will be all set for its world cruise starting on January 20th 2015. The ship will offer guests all the latest onboard features which will be added during the upcoming dry-dock in Hamburg.

Upgraded Navigator of the Seas gets 'virtual balconies'

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas is expected to resume cruising on Feb. 5 after a drydock to install Royal Advantage upgrades.

Also, Navigator will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature the virtual balconies that are coming later this year to the Quantum of the Seas.

The virtual balconies are nearly floor-to-ceiling projection screens that display external images of the ocean, making it seem like interior cabins have balconies. The balconies even come with projection railings.

A total of 81 cabins have been fitted with the virtual balconies.

Navigator of the Seas is scheduled for a four-day cruise from Galveston, Texas, to Cozumel, returning to Galveston on Feb. 9.

Carnival Sunshine begins New Orleans cruises

By Jerry Limone

The Carnival Sunshine will embark on its first cruise from New Orleans on Monday afternoon, sailing to Cozumel and Grand Cayman on a six-day cruise.

Carnival Cruise Lines said the 3,006-passenger Sunshine is the largest Carnival ship to be based in New Orleans. The Sunshine will sail from New Orleans year-round.

Earlier this year, the Sunshine emerged from a $155 million makeover that transformed the former Carnival Destiny. The ship was lengthened and 151 staterooms were added. It also received dining and entertainment upgrades under the Carnival Fun Ship 2.0 program

Gaining visibility on discounts

By Tom Stieghorst

One of the things that can frustrate travel agents and travelers alike is knowing that discounts have been applied to the cruise price, but not knowing exactly how or which discounts were applied.

It’s great to pay less than the next guy. But accounting for discounts can be just as important.

Royal Caribbean is taking a step in that direction with the enhancements it has made to its reservations process. 

With the “Pricing and Promotions” upgrades, agents and travelers will be able to easily see where promotions are applied.  The upgrades also improve the ability to combine various promotions and track which offers are combinable in what amounts. 

Royal said the promotions will be visible during shopping, applied when the booking is confirmed and, perhaps most importantly, displayed on the booking invoice.

It has the opportunity to give shoppers more confidence in what they’re getting and

give them visibility into the value of the deal.

“In the past people would just call us and say ‘I’m over 55, what’s your rate for seniors?’” noted Diana Block, vice president of revenue management for Royal Caribbean International. "We might say, 'it’s $1,099.' They couldn’t see the value; that in the general marketplace it was $1,299 and that we were giving them a $200 discount.”

Now, she said, “the customer can really see the benefit of the discount that they’re getting.”

Royal said several years ago it would spend $100 million on improving  its reservations technology. With “Pricing and Promotions” we’re starting to see where the dollars have been spent, and that there appears to be a tangible payoff for agents in Royal’s IT investments.

Royal Caribbean will add cabins to Voyager ships

By Tom Stieghorst

Each of Royal Caribbean's Voyager-class ships will gain about 75 additional cabins during revitalizations scheduled to begin in the next few months.

Royal Caribbean International CEO Adam Goldstein disclosed the capacity increase in a call with Wall Street analysts to discuss third-quarter earnings.

The Voyager class started in 1999 with the introduction of Voyager of the Seas. Each of the five Voyager-class ships currently have capacity for 3,114 passengers at double occupancy.

Goldstein said that when Voyager was introduced, it was never expected to sail outside the Caribbean, but the ships have led expansions into Europe and Asia. He said the five ships account for about 25% of the cruise line's total capacity.

During Royal Caribbean's third quarter financial results conference call, Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein mentioned that as part of the fleet-wide revitalization program, all Voyager class ships will receive 75 new staterooms.

Voyager class ships are the next batch of Royal Caribbean's ships to get the upgrades that will roll out many new amenities and upgrades, first seen on the Oasis class.  These new staterooms, however, are a departure from other ship upgrades and unique to the 

Voyager class.

The order of upgrades is currently scheduled as follows

• Navigator of the Seas: February 2014
• Adventure of the Seas: April 2014
• Voyager of the Seas: May 2014
• Explorer of the Seas: February 2015

Mariner of the Seas received her upgrade back on May 2, 2012 and did not receive a stateroom upgrade at that time.