Guest Services News

Carnival Corporation announced another set of moves within its global leadership team as part of the company's broader efforts to streamline operations and prepare the organization for the eventual resumption of cruising amid the coronavirus health crisis.Gus Antorcha, currently chief operations officer for the group's Carnival Cruise Line brand, has been named president of the company's Holland America Line, while Neil Palomba, currently president of the company's Italy-based Costa Cruises…

Seven days before Japan quarantined a cruise ship near Tokyo early this year, in what became one of the first coronavirus hot spots outside China, another cruise ship docked in southern Japan.For the next five weeks, as the virus took hold in Japan and the Diamond Princess in Yokohama port grabbed global attention, the Japanese authorities issued no warnings to the Costa Atlantica 1,200 km (750 miles) to the southwest.Passengers from the Yokohama ship were dying while people from the other vessel freely got on and off…

Geneva headquartered MSC Cruises announced plans to enter the ultra-luxury cruise segment with a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four new vessels from Italian builder Fincantieri. The four cruise ships have a total value in excess of €2 billion and bring the number of MSC Cruises ships to be built by Fincantieri to eight.The first ultra-luxury ship is scheduled for delivery in Spring 2023, followed by one vessel per year thereafter.Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman…

The construction of up to 20 new ferries for New York City is arguably the most exciting maritime new construction project in the U.S. this year. Last month we visited with Cameron Clark, Corporate Vice President, Development and Special Projects, Hornblower, the project manager for the new Citywide Ferry by Hornblower fleet, who discussed the challenges and opportunities ahead. Hornblower has, in the span of 36 years, become the force in the U.S. ferry market, with more than 2,000 employees and 20 million passenger trips annually, including a cumulative staff of 700 in the New York City area.

Carnival Corporation & plc announced that Michael Ungerer, currently President of Germany-based AIDA Cruises, has been appointed Chief Operations Officer-Shared Services for Carnival Asia, effective September 1, 2015. Ungerer will relocate to Shanghai, China, and directly support each of the Carnival Corporation brands operating in the region to leverage the company's industry-leading presence and scale in the region. Ungerer will jointly report to Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group, which includes AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises, and to a China steering committee comprising the Carnival Corporation brands operating in the region. In addition, longtime AIDA senior executive Felix Eichhorn has been named president of AIDA Cruises. He will also report to Thamm.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced that Ken Muskat, executive vice president of sales, public relations, and guest services for MSC Cruises USA, has been named chairman of the CLIA Trade Relations Committee. In this role, Muskat will lead a committee of his peers and work in partnership with CLIA Vice President of Membership Charles Sylvia to provide counsel on CLIA’s travel agency and agent relations, training, professional development programs, partnerships, research and membership initiatives.

After nearly 43 years in the cruise business, Maurice M. Zarmati is retiring as president and CEO of Costa Cruises North America, effective November 30, 2011. He will remain with the line as a senior consultant on Costa’s worldwide sales, marketing and passenger-traffic initiatives. Zarmati, 65, became president and CEO of Costa Cruises North America in March 2008. He is responsible for sales, marketing, guest services, finance, human resources and revenue management for the North American sales and marketing  headquarters of Europe’s leading cruise company, Costa Crociere S.p.A., based in Genoa, Italy. He reports directly to Costa’s home office.

Thomas Mazloum has been promoted to Crystal Cruises’ senior vice president, operations. Mazloum, who has served as Crystal’s senior vice president, hotel operations, since 2003 assumed the responsibilities for the fleet’s marine operations this month with the March 31 retirement of Joe Valenti, Crystal’s senior vice president, marine operations. As head of hotel operations for Crystal Cruises, Mazloum’s responsibilities include the supervision of Crystal’s food and beverage, entertainment, quality assurance, land programs, service training, onboard guest services and profit centers, and purchasing department. In Mazloum’s new role he will also oversee the ships’ technical and nautical operations, regulatory compliance, safety and security, environmental stewardship, and seagoing personnel.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. named Jack Williams president and chief operating officer of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. In his new role, Williams, previously president of Royal Caribbean International, will manage the day-to-day operations of both cruise lines. The two lines will continue to operate independently under Williams. Williams' appointment follows an earlier announcement that respected cruise veteran Richard Sasso, president of Celebrity Cruises, will resign from the company, effective January 1, 2002. spa facilities and cuisine," said Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. "He has built a solid framework for us to build from, and we will continue his legacy of excellence.