Magic mirrors on new MSC Cruises smartships show passengers how clothes will look on them in 3D

Magic mirrors on new MSC Cruises smartships show passengers how clothes will look on them in 3D

Water wonder: CGI of MSC Meraviglia - 'marvel' in English - which comes into service in June 2017

Three next-generation vessels get an array of hi-tech innovations including an indoor promenade with an LED roof - two newest ships also get first art museums at sea.

It's the question women having been asking for years when they try on clothes – 'does my bum look big in this?'

But when passengers on four new next-generation super-smart ships are in the on-board outfitters, technology will come to the rescue – with 3D magic mirrors that show whether that dress really is flattering or not.

MSC Cruises has just commissioned two more ships for its upcoming Vista class – to be constructed at the STX France shipyard in St Nazaire, Brittany, and designated “Meraviglia-Plus” - which, like the initial two ships in the Vista project, will feature industry-leading innovations on board, thanks mainly to a tie-up with South Korean technology titans Samsung.

Gianni Onorato, MSC's chief executive, said the hi-tech marvels will include interactive digital mirrors in the on-board clothes shops which will show customers (including men of course!) a 3D view of how attire will look when they wear it.

Cool pool: CGI of the sun deck on MSC Meraviglia

Other smart innovations also include in-cabin interactive flat screen HDTVs that link to guests' devices, 300 digital interactive signs in public areas, Near Field Contact geolocation of children, and hi-tech medical centres that can send scans to hospitals on shore for analysis.

But if all that technology gets too much, there's a device-free digital detox room with no wi-fi or mobile signal.

In addition to modern human ingenuity, the two new Plus ships will also feature mankind's artistic creativity with cruising's first ever fine art museums at sea.

Mr Onorato said the museums would comprise classic and contemporary masterpieces from around the world - loaned from public institutions and private collections – and it should see works from leading establishments in Italy, France and the USA put on display as the ships cruise the oceans.

He added MSC had been approached by museums to try putting art and museum pieces on show at sea. ''Let's see how it works,'' he said, “we need a little courage to do something like this.'

Show stopper: CGI view of the main theatre on MSC Meravigliva

Entertainment on board the Vista ships will be showcased by exclusive performances from Cirque du Soleil staged in purpose-built dining and entertainment venues.

The two new 1,092ft Plus ships will have some of the largest passenger capacity in the world at up to 6,300 – just a hundred or so less than Royal Caribbean's upcoming Harmony of the Seas – but with a more modest gross tonnage of 177,100 against Harmony's 227,000. They will debut in 2019 and 2020, two years ahead of the original construction schedule when they were yet-to-be-confirmed options.

The announcement of two more ships on the order books was made by MSC executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago at the Brittany STX yard where the line's first two Vista class smartships, Meraviglia and Seaside, are being built.

He said: “The two Meraviglia-Plus vessels will be even larger and longer as well as richer in features and amenities, thus confirming MSC Cruises as the industry’s boldest innovator when it comes to ship design and experiences we create for our guests.”

The 167,600 ton, up to 5,714 passenger Meraviglia - lead ship of MSC's Vista vessels - will come into service in June next year, followed by sister ship Seaside in December, and was undergoing the traditional, centuries-old coin ceremony where shipyard workers place a coin deep in the ship's 1,039ft hull for good luck.

Steak and ships: CGI of the steakhouse restaurant on MSC Meravigliva

Besides magic mirrors in clothes shops, her revolutionary technology will see the creation of an 317ft long indoor promenade at the heart of the ship with an arched 5,400 sq ft LED roof which can project blue skies, migrating birds, starry skies or images of destinations (there will a 366ft long version on the two bigger Plus ships).

Seating around 600 but with ample room for more passengers to stroll around, the indoor prom will have shops, cafes such as a venue from US celebrity pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury with his signature chocolate fountains, restaurants and an English pub, karaoke bar and 24hr TV studio.

Other facilities on board will see the installation of a full size bowling alley and Formula One racing car simulators.

Outside there's a sleek, contemporary look for the pool areas and an array of slides in a water park.

Mocked up cabins were on view at STX too and they exuded the cool chic of a modern boutique hotel.

Chic sleep: mock-up of a cabin on MSC Meravigliva at the French shipyard

Sister ship Seaside will have many of the same on-board offerings but will not feature the indoor promenade. Instead she will get a more traditional outdoor wrapround walkway much lower down than on most other modern ships so passengers are nearer the water to get the feeling of being on a quayside at sea, with shops, bars and restaurants lining the area.

She will home port in Miami year round to discover the Unesco world heritage sites of Cuba and other Caribbean hotspots. Mr Onorato said she will be "the ship that follows the sun".

Meraviglia will be christened at Le Havre on June 1, 2017 and spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean, home porting in Marseille.

A2SEA Jack-Up Capsizes Off Denmark

A2SEA Jack-Up Capsizes Off Denmark

Sea Worker jack-up. File photo: A2SEA

An offshore wind farm jack-up barge has capsized off the coast of Denmark one week after running aground in a separate incident.

A2SEA has confirmed that its jack-up Sea Worker capsized overnight Tuesday due to harsh weather. As of Wednesday morning no pollution had been detected from the vessel.

The offshore wind service provider said focus remains on preventing any oils or fuels from leaking from the vessel. The company has the vessels Esvagt Connector and Emile Robin on-site and following the situation. Also the pollution control vessel Gunnar Seidenfaden is on standby in the Port of Hvide Sande and ready to respond if needed.

A2SEA added that the next step is the removal of all oil and fuels from the jack-up as soon as weather permits.

The capsizing comes exactly one week after the Sea Worker ( A offshore wind farm jack-up barge has grounded in the North Sea off Denmark after its tow line parted in heavy weather.

Offshore wind market service provider A2SEA has confirmed that its jack-up barge Sea Worker ran aground early Wednesday morning off the coast of Nymindegab, south of Hvide Sande in Denmark.

The jack-up broke free from its tug in heavy weather during a transit to Esbjerg and began drifting towards shore.

All crew members onboard were evacuated by a lifeboat from Hvide Sande prior to grounding. No injuries were reported.

Sea Worker is a modern jack-up barge specially equipped to operate in the offshore wind sector, according to A2SEA’s website.),ran aground off the coast of Nymindegab, south of Hvide Sande, after breaking free from a tug during a transit to Esbjerg. In that incident, all workers were were evacuated by a lifeboat without injury.

It is unclear if today’s capsizing is at all related to last week’s grounding. 

Two Huge Cruise Ships Ordered By MSC Cruises

Original Story at http://www.cruisehive.com/

Thanks to Cruisehive.com

MSC Cruises has announced the order of two huge cruise ships with STX France. The announcement was made at the cruise lines coin ceremony for MSC Meraviglia which is under construction at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

The two new ships to be built will be slightly larger than MSC Meraviglia and will be known as Meraviglia-Plus class at 177,100 gross tons. Both ships will carry 4,888 passengers at double occupancy and 2,444 staterooms. The first ship will be delivered to MSC Cruises in November 2019 and the second in April 2020. The Meraviglia Plus will be among the largest cruise ships in the world and will help expand the cruise lines expansion in North America, Europe and Asia.

The MSC Meraviglia which is currently under construction is the first of four ships now ordered with STX France. The European based cruise line also has three Seaside class vessels ordered with italian ship builder Fincantieri. We can expect further announcements on the Meraviglia Plus class in the coming months including deployment and onboard features.

MSC Meraviglia will be 167,600 gross tons and will be completed in June 2017. The ship will carry 4,500 passengers along with 1,540 crew members.

Costa Cruises orders two 6,600-passenger LNG-powered cruise ships

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Costa Cruises orders two 6,600-passenger LNG-powered cruise ships

Report Thanks to http://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/

In June Carnival Corporation announced it had ordered four of the largest cruise ships ever built based on maximum passenger capacity. 

Two will be heading to AIDA Cruises and now it has been revealed the remaining pair will be joining the Costa Cruises fleet.

The ships on order form part of the previously announced Memorandum of Understanding with shipbuilders Meyer Werft and Fincantieri S.p.A for nine new ships between 2019 and 2022.

The four ships on order (for AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises) will feature a revolutionary “green design” and will be the first in the cruise industry to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel.

The two ships destined for Costa Cruises will be built by Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, with delivery expected in 2019 and 2020. Each ship will exceed 180,000 gross tons and will include more than 2,600 passenger cabins, accommodating approximately 5,200 passengers based on double occupancy with a maximum capacity of 6,600 passengers.

Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group said “These ships will expand the leadership position for the Costa Group, the market leader in all the major continental European markets. The multi-billion dollar contract with Meyer mirrors our strategy to constantly innovate our vacation offers and to deliver an unmatched cruise experience to our guests.”

Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises  said “The two Costa ships are a real innovation for the market, setting new standards for the whole industry: they will be the first green ships powered with LNG and they will offer an extensive number of guest-friendly features. Furthermore they will be an expression of the new positioning, Italy’s finest. The order also confirms that the Costa brand will continue to grow, becoming even stronger and keep on generating a positive economic impact in the main countries where it operates, including Italy”.

According to Costa Cruises’ forecast, approximately 750 Italian crew members are expected to be hired to work on the two ships. Furthermore Italy will be featured strongly in the on-board experience with thousands of international guests experiencing the Italian décor, hospitality, gastronomy and entertainment.

Arson Might Be The Cause Of The Fire On AIDA's Newest Cruise Ship In the Shipyard

Arson Might Be The Cause Of The Fire On AIDA's Newest Cruise Ship In the Shipyard

Story thanks to - http://www.cruisediscuss.com/

Arson is being investigated as the cause of a cruise ship fire at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.’s shipyard in Nagasaki early Sunday, the third such incident to strike in January.

According to local police and firefighters, a worker at the Koyagi plant of MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, found cardboard and insulation material ablaze aboard the 124,500-ton AIDA Prima, which is one of two ships it is building German cruise line AIDA Cruises.

Firefighters said workers quickly put out the fire and no injuries were reported.

Sunday’s incident follows an electrical wiring fire near a theater space on Jan. 11, and a cabin fire involving a piece of cloth on Jan. 13.

The fires came after delivery of the ship, originally planned for March 2015, was repeatedly delayed amid design changes. The current delivery deadline is this April.

NCL boss warns cruise could return to heavy discounting

NCL boss warns cruise could return to heavy discounting

by Lee Hayhurst

NCL boss warns cruise could return to heavy discounting

Cruise is in danger of slipping back into the ways that saw a wave of commission cuts by operators five years ago.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Nick Wilkinson admitted agents are polarised between the discounters and those selling at higher prices based on customer service.

“We are at the top of the [sales] pyramid and it could go either way,” warned the line’s general manager for northern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“We are seeing travel partners who are being very aggressive.

“And we are seeing those that understand that with good service they can get the price they need to earn a living. We are really seeing a split in the marketplace.”

Asked to comment on a seven-night Mediterranean P&O Cruises deal for the equivalent of £400 per person when free onboard spend is taken into account, Wilkinson said: “I see the emails. I do not know how they do it. We will choose very carefully how we discount. If you look at our core products you will see what’s important is added value.”

Challenged to explain how throwing in complimentary extras isn’t another form of discounting, Wilkinson said: “If you just focus on the price point, the consumer is only going to move from price point to price point.

“If you look at the added value, they stop focusing on the price point and that gives you the 
scope to increase the base price.”

Wilkinson said Norwegian had been doing this for 18 months and it had resulted in increased yields and revenue.

And he said Norwegian segments its product, so not all agents are competing on price for the same customer.

“We will not have partner after partner advertising the same thing,” he said. “As an industry we cannot just keep cannibalising the same clients.”

NCL to consult trade on TV advertising ahead of ex-UK return

NCL to consult trade on TV advertising ahead of ex-UK return

Norwegian Cruise Line plans to consult with the trade before making a decision on whether it introduces TV advertising in the UK.

Speaking as the line revealed plans to have a ship sailing from the UK for the first time in seven years, Harry Sommer, executive vice president of international business development, said the line would discuss marketing with key agent partners before making a decision.

“I’ve been asked to speak to our trade partners about doing TV ads in the UK, Germany and Spain – our three top European markets.

"I can’t rule it in or out but because so much of our marketing in Europe is with our travel agency partners it is a decision we’d like to make jointly with them.”

The line will base Norwegian Jade in Southampton in 2017 and will offer a series of 11 Western Europe and three Norwegian Fjords sailings between May 12 and June 20 and August 7 and October 16, 2017.

Sommer said the decision to return to Southampton was partly due to “market demand”, but also that it was “reflective of the growth of the company”.

The ship will arrive in Europe after a two-and-a-half week dry-dock. Ports of call featured on its itineraries include Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge, Le Havre, Alesund, Geiranger, and Bergen.

Asked why the line wasn’t offering Mediterranean sailings out of Southampton, Sommer said they’d found it difficult to put together a “good itinerary” and instead believed the fly-cruise market was better suited to that part of Europe.

Senior vice president international sales and operations, Francis Riley, said basing Norwegian Jade in Southampton, and Hamburg, where the ship will also offer sailings from, would be a way of “testing it” for the future.

“When we started looking at deployments we said as a team we were ready to have a ship back (in the UK), and we’ve been ready for some time,” he said.

The line’s 2017 programme includes a total of five ships sailing in Europe, NCL's biggest-ever European deployment.

Norwegian Getaway, which launched in 2014, will return to Europe to sail eight or nine-night Baltic Capitals cruises to and from Copenhagen.

Norwegian Epic will sail in the Western Mediterranean; Norwegian Spirit will offer 10 and 11-night voyages between Barcelona and Venice and Norwegian Star will sail between Venice and the Greek Isles.

Norwegian’s managing director for EMEA, Christian Boell, said: “Not only are we offering the possibility to embark in Southampton but we are also bringing one of our newest and most innovative ships back to Europe.

“We’re convinced that this will encourage continued growth in the UK market, where we have just seen record breaking guest numbers in 2015.”

Northern Europe general manager, Nick Wilkinson, added: “I’m sure these exciting Southampton sailings will be music to our travel partners’ ears.”

“We are back, we’re in Southampton and we are in it to win,” Wilkinson added.

Royal Caribbean adds perks for Boardwalk and Central Park cabins

Royal Caribbean International said it will add a package of perks for guests in interior-facing cabins on its Oasis-class ships, including the upcoming Harmony of the Seas.

Guests with views of the Central Park neighborhood on Oasis-class ships will get lunch for two at Jamie’s Italian on Harmony of the Seas or Giovanni’s Table on Oasis or Allure of the Seas. They will also get a complimentary bottle of red wine at check-in and perks in the casino.

Those with views of the Boardwalk neighborhood will get lunch or dinner for four at Johnny Rockets, a soda beverage package for two and "private time" on the ship’s rock-climbing wall, Royal Caribbean said.

Princess puts a tagline on ship investments

LOS ANGELES — Princess Cruises has grouped a package of initiatives and ship upgrades into a program called “The Come Back New Promise.”

The program will encompass $450 million of investments in premium bedding, new restaurants, Broadway shows and other improvements it will make through partnerships with outside innovators.

“Our promise is to provide guests with joyful, memorable moments,” Princess President Jan Swartz said at a dockside function aboard the Ruby Princess here.

Many of the investments, such as a new customized bed and a specialty restaurant by Australian chef Curtis Stone, have been previously disclosed.  

Other elements are the Salty Dog Gastropub designed by Argentinian chef Ernesto Uchimura, the “Magic to Do” show crafted by composer Steven Schwartz, a version of “The Voice” singing competition called “The Voice at Sea” and the Chocolate Journeys program of confections from pastry chef Norman Love.

Further, the program includes “Festivals of the World” with shipboard parties, activities and musical performances themed to festivals such as Rio de Janeiro's Carnival and its partnerships with regional brewers to produce custom beers for individual vessels.

Norwegian Cruise Line to offer ex-UK cruises for first time in seven years

Norwegian Cruise Line to offer ex-UK cruises for first time in seven years

by Hollie-Rae Merrick 

Norwegian Cruise Line will have a UK-dedicated ship sailing from Southampton for the first time in seven years from 2017.

The cruise line will offer a series of 11 Western Europe and three Norwegian Fjords sailings between May 12 and June 20 and August 7 and October 16, 2017. Also available will be two shorter taster cruises.

Norwegian Jade (pictured) will arrive in Europe after a two-and-a-half-week dry-dock. Ports of call featured on its itineraries include Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge, Le Havre, Alesund, Geiranger, and Bergen.

The line’s 2017 programme includes a total of five ships sailing in Europe, the line’s biggest ever European deployment.

Norwegian Getaway, which launched in 2014, will return to Europe to sail on eight or nine-night Baltic Capitals cruises to and from Copenhagen.

Norwegian Epic will sail in the Western Mediterranean; Norwegian Spirit will offer 10 and 11-night voyages between Barcelona and Venice and Norwegian Star will sail between Venice and the Greek Isles.

Norwegian’s managing director for EMEA, Christian Boell, said: “We’re clearly demonstrating our commitment to our European customers, especially cruisers in the UK, with these exciting summer itineraries.

“Not only are we offering the possibility to embark in Southampton but we are also bringing one of our newest and most innovative ships back to Europe.

“We’re convinced that this will encourage continued growth in the UK market, where we have just seen record breaking guest numbers in 2015.”

Northern Europe general manager, Nick Wilkinson, added: “I’m sure these exciting Southampton sailings will be music to our travel partners’ ears.”

New ship Norwegian Escape, which launched in October 2015, will spend summer 2017 sailing alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami on May 6.

With ocean line expansion, Viking will bring first ship stateside

Viking Ocean Cruises is a little more than two months away from accepting its second ship, the Viking Sea, an event that will multiply the fledgling line’s ability to offer varied itineraries.

Already Viking has said that its first ship, the Viking Star, will reposition to North America starting in September.

After a transition cruise that follows the route of the Viking explorers from Norway to the New World, the Viking Star will offer some fall cruises in Canada and a trip down the eastern seaboard before making its home for the winter of 2016-17 in Puerto Rico.

Richard Marnell, senior vice president of marketing for Viking River Cruises, said the company intends to hold the line on pricing.

“It is our intent to maintain the value at what it is today and essentially to fill the ships as quickly as we can build them,” he said.

Marnell said the company, which is new to the ocean side of cruising, had some kinks to work out in its first few months, but its debut received positive feedback from media and customers.

He said a rating of 5 from the editors of the Cruise Critic website and a “Loved It” endorsement from 86% of the site’s readers were especially exciting. Internally, the line’s surveys are “very, very good and encouraging,” Marnell said.

“What people are applauding is the understated elegance, the residential feel, the great bathrooms, king-size beds, the housekeeping,” he said. “Food is a surprise, and people are quite pleased with our food.”

One of the kinks had to do with an electrical transformer problem that led to the early termination of a cruise in Estonia. Another involved sudden breakage of glass shower partitions in the bathrooms.

Marnell said both problems have been fixed, and Viking might be making a design modification on future ships to ensure that the glass breakage doesn’t reoccur but added that “from a safety perspective and a utility perspective it’s fine.”

There was also an IT problem that torpedoed the television system on early cruises; that, too, has been resolved.

In addition, he said, Viking has learned from experience that some things aren’t working as expected. A singular reception area on the Star has been split into separate shore excursion and guest services desks. The gangways have been modified because the ship is too small for most air bridges, which are designed for bigger vessels, Marnell said.

By bringing the Viking Star to North America, Viking hopes to give more people a chance to see the ship. On its transition cruise from Canada to Puerto Rico, it will be making stops in Boston, New York and Florida.

Those stops, Marnell said, “will give the opportunity for those who weren’t able to attend other functions — and this is particularly important to agents — to be able to see the vessel and experience it.”

For the winter months, the Viking Star will do a series of nine 11-night roundtrips from San Juan, visiting Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Antigua; St. Lucia; Barbados; St. Kitts; Guadeloupe; St. Maarten; and St. Thomas.

Marnell said that homeporting in San Juan saves time that would otherwise be taken up sailing from South Florida for more port time in the Caribbean, a key brand promise.

Also, Viking’s overall value continues to get high marks in customer surveys, according to Marnell, and that remains a key point of differentiation.

“So we feel like we’re in a very good position, and it’s our intention to maintain that moving forward,” he said.

Royal Caribbean makes emissions pledge as part of WWF tie-up

Royal Caribbean makes emissions pledge as part of WWF tie-up

A five-year global partnership has been forged between Royal Caribbean Cruises and the World Wildlife Fund to help ensure the long-term health of the oceans.

They are to set “measurable and achievable” sustainability targets that will reduce the cruise giant’s environmental footprint, while raising awareness about ocean conservation among the company's more than five million passengers, and support WWF's global oceans conservation work.

The targets focus on supply chain sustainability and emissions reductions through to 2020. The aim is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% in the timeframe.

In addition to other measures covering the sourcing of seafood from sustainable fisheries, Royal Caribbean also will support WWF's global ocean conservation work with a $5 million “philanthropic contribution” during the partnership.

The company pledged to collaborate with WWF to build global awareness about ocean conservation issues among its millions of passengers.

The two organisations made their announcement at an event in the Philippines that is home to a model community-based eco-tourism program.

Royal Caribbean made a separate, $200,000 donation to WWF Philippines to support conservation schemes in the Donsol area.

Chairman and chief executive, Richard Fain, said: "Our mantra at Royal Caribbean is 'continuous improvement,' and this partnership with WWF represents a great opportunity to make a big step forward in meeting our special responsibility to protect the oceans.

"This new partnership aligns all of us at Royal Caribbean with WWF's mission to conserve the world's oceans. Together we are setting aggressive goals and together we will start implementing them right away."

WWF US president and chief executive, Carter Roberts, said: "The threats that are facing the ocean are greater than ever – in the last 30 years, some ocean wildlife populations have declined by nearly 50%. If we are going to reverse the downward trends, we must take serious steps to repair, restore and protect the oceans.

"This initiative centres on two core concepts: first, committing to specific and measurable targets to reduce carbon emissions, increase sustainable sourcing and build destination stewardship; and second, comprehensively engaging their millions of travellers to learn about the ocean and then act to help save it."

Norwegian Jade charts Hamburg turnarounds in 2017

Norwegian Jade charts Hamburg turnarounds in 2017

Norwegian Jade in Santorini by Dave Jones

Norwegian Cruise Line has scheduled 19 Hamburg turnarounds in 2017, marking the first time a US operator executes a season of full turns in the north German city.

Cruise Gate Hamburg said the business was made possible by the services available with the completion of Cruise Center Steinwerder in summer 2015.

In October the new Norwegian Escape sailed from Hamburg just after its delivery by Meyer Werft.

'We are very proud that we will now regularly cruise from Hamburg for the first time. With the Norwegian Jade, we bring a very popular ship to the Hanseatic city,' said Christian Böll, md Europe, Middle East and Africa for Norwegian Cruise Line.

The cruises will be offered with 'premium all-inclusive' pricing for the German market, and Böll said Norwegian would now set the course for steady growth in that market.

The decision to homeport Norwegian Jade in Hamburg is a 'wonderful acknowledgment of our efforts and proves that we, together with the many other parties involved, have succeeded in putting Hamburg on the international cruise map,' said Sacha Rougier, md of Cruise Gate Hamburg.

Terminal operator Cruise Gate Hamburg was founded as a joint venture between Hamburg Port Authority and the Hamburg Airport. The company is in charge of operations and berth assignment at all of Hamburg's cruise terminals.

Copyright 2016 Seatrade.

Giles Hawke to leave MSC Cruises

Giles Hawke to leave MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises executive director Giles Hawke is leaving the cruise line.

Hawke, who joined the business almost two-and-a-half years ago, is due to leave in April.

He was originally appointed as managing director UK and Ireland back in November 2013, but was quickly promoted and within three months became executive director, also taking on responsibility for the South African and Australian markets.

He will be replaced by Antonio Paradiso, currently MSC’s executive director for emerging markets. Paradiso will relocate from the line’s Geneva base and will take up his new role on March 1.

Chief executive Gianni Onorato added: "Antonio will be a strong successor to Giles as we look to grow further our business in the UK and Ireland. To best prepare for this, over the next two months Giles and Antonio will be working closely together on a full handover and familiarisation of the MSC Cruises business, its partners and other key stakeholders across both markets.

"I wish to thank Giles for his contribution to the business during his time with MSC Cruises. At the same time, this is an exciting time for our UK and Ireland business and a great opportunity for Antonio to lead the next phase of our growth in both markets."

It isn’t currently known where Hawke is moving on to.

Paradiso will remain in change of emerging markets in the interim. Achille Staiano, currently head of commercial services, will assume market responsibility for Australia, Scandinavia and South Africa, three markets formerly part of Hawke’s portfolio, in the interim.

Hawke joined MSC after a long stint with Carnival UK where he was sales and customer services director.

New technology brings lower travel calling costs

ChatSim is a SIM card that offers users the ability to message on certain apps for a baseline price of $12 per year.

An Expedia.com study recently revealed what most suspected: The majority of travelers consider their smartphones to be the most important item to bring on trips. But signing up for and using overseas calling plans offered by U.S. wireless companies are among the most frustrating, and among the most expensive, experiences consumers encounter in their journeys.

Travel advisers have taken note: The importance of keeping their clients connected internationally has not escaped them, and many are now offering more convenient options for staying connected, including applications that enable cheap international calling via WiFi, in an attempt to combat the historically expensive and confusing international plans offered by most domestic carriers.

T-Mobile is now including in some of its simple choice plans international roaming in about 140 countries with unlimited data and texts. The plans start at $50 per line per month. WiFi calls made back home to the U.S. are free, but WiFi calls to another country are 20 cents per minute, the same rate as cellular calls.

Other carriers have more complicated  — and more expensive — ways to make international calls. For example, AT&T offers a three-tiered plan for coverage in some 190 countries with base charges of $30, $60 and $120. Each includes unlimited texting, but depending on the base plan, a user could pay as much as $1 per minute for calls and more for data.

In contrast, Wireless Traveler offers several popular solutions that travel advisers can share with their clients. In addition to renting and selling global phones, the company has an eponymous app that offers international calling for as low as 2 cents per minute over WiFi. It is a  voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) service that is available wherever there is WiFi.

Rates vary by country, but for example, a traveler in France could call another country from the app for 3 cents per minute. Calling another person who has the app is free.

The company also offers a white-label version of the product, working with agencies and tour operators such as Valerie Wilson Travel and Collette Tours to create branded apps that offer the same calling technology. Wireless Traveler also has preferred-supplier relationships with Virtuoso, Ensemble Travel Group and others, according to CEO Ian Benson.

Valerie Wilson Travel Co-President Kimberly Wilson Wetty said she uses her company’s branded app when she travels and is impressed with the quality of the service for the price.

“It is the cheapest thing I have ever used as a service,” she said, calling the quality “so clear it was unbelievable.” Her agency promotes the app to its clients, including leisure and corporate travelers.

Wetty particularly likes that the app carries her agency’s name and logo, keeping it in the forefront of clients’ minds.

“As an agency owner, that’s one of the concerns as we look at the increased advancement of travel technology,” she said. “How do you maintain your own brand and your own relevance in a world where there’s information 24/7 and completely at your fingertips?”

Elaine Carey, an affiliate of Travel Experts, uses the app as a gift that she gives to some of her younger, more tech-savvy clients. Before they travel abroad, she pre-loads an app with $20 for them. It also provides them with a good — and free, for them — way to get in touch with her if something goes wrong on their trip, she said.

Benson said that while some agents do gift within the app, “not enough [do] in my opinion. … I think it’s a fabulous gift to give to somebody because it’s so relevant.”

Nicole Mazza, chief marketing officer of Travelsavers and NEST, said the companies encourage their agents to gift WiFi calling credit within their Affluent Traveler Talk App. Many use it as a value-add for their clients.

In addition to the Wireless Traveler app, the company offers global SIM cards, which Benson said are his biggest sellers. They work in most countries in the world through partnerships with some 400 carriers. The card costs $24.99, with $15 of free airtime included; it also includes a U.S. and European phone number.

Rates vary, but for example outgoing calls from France to the U.K. have a 40-cent connection fee and are 65 cents per minute. Text messages and data are available at additional per-country costs.

Like the Wireless Traveler app, Benson said there are agents who gift global SIM cards to clients, as well as the company’s pocket WiFi hotspots.

It is important to note that Wireless Traveler’s global SIM cards only work on unlocked GSM cell phones, meaning they will not work with Verizon handsets.

Travelers could, of course, purchase local SIM cards if they have a compatible phone once they reach their destination, but Benson said

he only recommends that for longer stays because it eats into vacation time, and the local cards cannot travel from country to country. They also expire after a set amount of time, while the global SIM card does not.

ChatSim, another relatively new international telecom service, is making its way into the U.S., and its investors are hoping agents here will start using the technology themselves and gifting it to clients, as the company is seeing internationally.

ChatSim is a SIM card that offers users the ability to message on certain apps for a baseline price of $12 per year. The card itself is also about $12, but it does not expire at the end of the year.

ChatSim works on messaging apps WhatsApp, Messenger, LINE, WeChat, imo, Kakao Talk, QQi, Hike and BBM. It provides coverage in 150 countries by connecting to over 250 service providers.

Pierre Brais, an angel investor in ChatSim, said the company differentiates itself from others thanks to its flat annual $12 fee to chat within compatible apps. The card can be ordered online through Amazon for $25, which includes the card and the first year’s $12 fee.

For an extra $12, users can buy a multimedia package of 2,000 credits, which they can use to send photos and make voice calls within apps. ChatSim estimates 2,000 credits would give a user enough bandwidth to send up to 200 photos or 50 videos or make up to 80 minutes of voice calls. Brais said around 60% to 70% of people buying the card are also buying the multimedia option.

Costs are kept down by preventing other apps on a user’s phone from running in the background, eating up data, according to Brais.

“Our tests have shown that 90% of data traffic on a smartphone now is used by the background applications on your phone,” he said, not by what the user is actually doing. The ChatSim card automatically turns off non-messaging apps to limit the amount of data used.

ChatSim has been on the market for about a year, and 100,000 cards have been sold, including to travel agents and tour operators, who are gifting the cards or selling them to clients.

The company attended the recent New York Times Travel Show and got a positive reaction from agents, Brais said, marking the start of ChatSim’s push into the U.S. market.

Brais said the card works in most unlocked, SIM-capable phones, both GSM and CDMA, meaning that unlike Wireless Traveler’s SIM cards the CDMA version of ChatSIM will work with Verizon handsets.

Royal Caribbean cancels another cruise ship stop in Labadee due to local protests

Royal Caribbean has decided to cancel today's scheduled stop for one of its cruise ships at the cruise line's private destination of Labadee in Haiti due to ongoing protests.

Photo by Michael C.

Navigator of the Seas was scheduled to stop at Labadee on Thursday, January 21, 2016, but Royal Caribbean canceled the port call and withdrew all employees from the site.

This is the second cruise ship to skip a stop in Labadee, after protests prevented Freedom of the Seas from allowing its guests to go ashore earlier this week.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean commented further on the situation, "Royal Caribbean has not received any guarantees or assurances that there will not be any protests in the future. If a protest takes place while a ship is port, there would be a significant impact on our guests’ ability to enjoy Labadee, or we may have to cancel the visit completely."

In regards to upcoming stops in Labadee, Royal Caribbean noted, "We will continue to closely monitor the situation and are in close communication with local and government officials in Haiti. At this time, we have not made any decisions regarding any additional upcoming port calls to Labadee. The next schedule call is Vision of the Seas, on Sunday, January 24."