World Travel News

SunStone Maritime Group A/S took delivery of two Infinity class ships -- Sylvia Earle and Ocean Odyssey -- from the CMHI Shipyard in Haimen, China. The pair are the fourth and the fifth of the Infinity class delivered from China Merchant Heavy Industries, and both will be on long-term, year-round charter: the SYLVIA EARLE with Aurora Expeditions, and the OCEAN ODYSSEY with Vantage Deluxe World Travel.The Infinity series of ships represents a collaboration between European design and technology and Chinese shipbuilding.Infinity class ships measure 104 x 18m with a 5.1m draft.

Arnold W. Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & PLC, has been selected as the recipient of Seafarers’ House International Golden Compass Award for 2022. The award is given each year to those who have achieved distinction in the maritime world, those whose vocation or avocation has been the sea, or those who have ministered to or otherwise assisted seafarers.Donald grew up in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans with 27 foster brothers and sister. His parents’ generosity made a significant impact on his life.

The market for marine exhaust gas cleaning systems, also known as scrubbers, is expected to continue generating momentum in the years ahead amid increasing concern toward maritime pollution and new environmental regulations. The global market share for marine scrubbers is predicted to surpass $8 billion by 2024, according to a report by Global Market Insights.As per the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) legislation, effective from January 1, 2020, the maximum limit of sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships will be 0.5 percent m/m…

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) operated Ports of Durban, Cape Town, and Elizabeth have been nominated for the Africa & Indian Ocean segment of the 25th annual World Travel Awards in the category of “Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2018”.Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards seek to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Global travel and tourism industry leaders will be recognized at the various World Travel Awards gala ceremonies, with Durban hosting the Africa and Indian Ocean segment for the third time.

Every year maritime government officials from across the world travel to Malmo, Sweden, to enrol at the World Maritime University (WMU). The WMU was founded by the International eMaritime Organization (IMO) in 1983 and holds a unique position as the only institution focused entirely on maritime education, research and capacity building. One thing has been missing from the curriculum, however, and through a donation and partnership with Maersk Line, courses on corruption awareness and business integrity will now be mandatory for all students. Announcing the partnership today also marks the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December. The project, titled CORA, has been long underway, explains Kristin Berglund, Senior Legal Advisor in Maersk Line.

Maritime travel specialist CTI Marine has appointed Steve Harrop as Operations Director.    Harrop joins the company from Dubai based Destinations of the World Travel, a global distributor of hotel accommodation and other ground related travel products where he was Group Chief Operating Officer for four years.     Harrop will lead and oversee all of the company’s six operational offices teams, together with the technology teams, and report directly to CTI Chief Executive Officer, Ian White.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nature Environmental & Marine Services, LLC have joined the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) the organization announced today. “The principles and aspirations of our organizations to promote sound environmental practices are closely aligned,” said Carleen Lyden-Kluss, NAMEPA Co-Founder and Executive Director. “This is an excellent opportunity to collaborate our strategies to a more sustainable world with cleaner seas.

Cruise Shipping Miami 2015 is gearing up to offer the most comprehensive and robust roster of panel discussions featuring the industry's most knowledgeable and experienced executives. The panels will be grouped under several broad themes based on industry trends during the four-day conference. The 31st edition of Cruise Shipping Miami is scheduled for March 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Organized by UBM Connect, thematic topics include The Geography of Cruise Tourism, Safety and Ship Operations, Market Segments and Cruise Product Development. On Tuesday morning, March 17, the conference will open with the popular State of the Industry session. Participants in that plenary session will be announced in the coming weeks. This program may be subject to alterations and additions.

consecutive year, at the prestigious World Travel Awards 2014. As the opening of the ultra-modern third cruise terminal was inaugurated by its namesake, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, over 300 top decision makers in global travel and tourism were gathering at the 21st World Travel Awards celebration hosted in Anguilla. Mina Rashid, now home to the “Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal”, the world’s largest single cruise facility, has been voted the World’s Leading Cruise Port, winning against some of the finest cruise port operators from around the globe, including Jamaica, Rio de Janeiro, South Africa, Mexico, Seychelles, USA, Portugal and Singapore.

Celebrity Cruises has taken a bold step in ship design with the signing of a letter of intent for a new class of vessels, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and French shipbuilder STX France announced today. The two 2,900-guest, 117,000-gross-registered-ton ships, developed under the project name EDGE will build upon the modern luxury experience of the brand’s Millennium and Solstice Class vessels. At 984 feet long, 123 feet wide and 190 feet high, Project EDGE will deliver small ship itineraries with large ship amenities, a perfect vacation experience in step with today’s premium vacationer. “The addition of two project EDGE vessels to our fleet delivers on our long-term strategic plan of moderate capacity growth…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) informs it has joined the international ad hoc Ebola Travel and Transport Task Force and is working with other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations to monitor the situation and provide timely information in response to the outbreak of the disease. IMO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have joined forces with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Airports Council International (ACI), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in the Travel and Transport Task Force. IMO has issued a circular letter (No.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has joined the international ad hoc Ebola Travel and Transport Task Force and is working with other United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations to monitor the situation and provide timely information in response to the outbreak of the disease. IMO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have joined forces with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Airports Council International (ACI), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in the Travel and Transport Task Force. IMO has issued a circular letter (No.

The etymology of the word equanimity derives from the Latin aequus meaning balanced and animus meaning spirit or internal state. The concept of equanimity—internal balance— is both profound and refined. Oceanco’s newly delivered 91.5-m Equanimity is aptly named; from her exterior to her interior to her inner core, she is perfectly well balanced. Equanimity (Y709) has the distinction of being the industry’s first superyacht designed and built to be fully Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) compliant. The owners look forward to extensive world travel aboard their distinctive luxury vessel. Measuring 91.5 metres in length with a 14.5-metre beam, her chic clean exterior styling is the combined work of Oceanco and Andrew Winch Designs.

Total 18,000 passengers and crew arrive by sea in one day; last year saw record number of tourists, rise continues. A record 13,000 passengers disembarked on Tuesday in the port of Lisbon from the towering hulls of cruise ships, including Cunard Line's gigantic trio of "Queens" making a rare joint stopover in a nod to the destination's growing popularity. Tourism has been an important element in helping Portugal's economy emerge last year from its worst recession since the 1970s, alleviating its high unemployment rate from record highs of over 16 percent by generating jobs in tourism centres like Lisbon, Porto and the southern region of Algarve.

7 heads of leading cruise lines are set to discuss the industry's current trends & future direction at the State of the Industry session. The session is slated for Tuesday, March 12, at the 29th annual Cruise Shipping Miami conference also featuring Christine Duffy , president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association, who will lead off with the State of the Industry address, and David Scowsill, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, who will provide the keynote speech. Panelists at the 9:30 a.m. session include Adam Goldstein , president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International; Kevin Sheehan , chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line…

A record 13,000 passengers disembarked on Tuesday in the port of Lisbon from the towering hulls of cruise ships, including Cunard Line's gigantic trio of "Queens" making a rare joint stopover in a nod to the destination's growing popularity. Tourism has been an important element in helping Portugal's economy emerge last year from its worst recession since the 1970s, alleviating its high unemployment rate from record highs of over 16 percent by generating jobs in tourism centres like Lisbon, Porto and the southern region of Algarve. Tourism-related revenues account for more than 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product that shrank in full-year 2013, but is expected to grow 1.2 percent this year, just as Portugal exits an international bailout.

This launch is part of a $120 million fleet investment program by Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Vantage Deluxe World Travel christened the MS River Splendor in Antwerp, Belgium as the latest addition to its growing European river cruising fleet. 'Miss Belgium', Noemie Happart led the official naming ceremony as the ship's godmother. The new ship will make its inaugural passenger voyage on March 17th from Amsterdam. Measuring 442 feet/135 meters, the maximum length allowed by European Union regulations…

World Travel, Camaraderie and Exciting Voyages Characterise a Career in the Maritime Industry, but Employment Figures Show Disinterest. A group of former seafarers encouraged youngsters to consider important professions in the Royal and Merchant Navy, on World Maritime Day on Friday 30 September. Residents at the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, a Surrey based home which provides dedicated accommodation and care to former seafarers and their dependants, said there is not enough awareness of the important role the Merchant and Royal Navy play in our society among the younger generation.

DFDS Seaways was named “Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator” at the European leg of the 2013 World Travel Awards in Antalya, Turkey, the seventh consecutive year that the ferry company has been recognised for its outstanding service at the World Travel Awards. The 2013 World Travel Awards are recognised worldwide as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry and the premier industry awards programme, with the winners decided by votes from travel industry professionals and consumers. The cruise and passenger ferry firm fought off competition from rival firms Brittany Ferries, Color Line and P&O Ferries.

Operator of riverboats and small cruise ships in the United States, American Cruise Lines, has been voted this year’s leading North American cruise line by travel excellence organization, World Travel Awards. (Referred to as “the Oscar’s of the travel industry” by the Wall Street Journal). Long established in cruise travel, American Cruise Lines has most recently received world-wide attention as the first to revive paddlewheel river cruising in America, particularly on the Mississippi River, a cruising region that had been dormant for several years.

Cruising Authority, the Internet's leading cruise-related talk show, and CruisesOnly, America's largest cruise agency, are joining forces. A division of World Travel Holdings, CruisesOnly will be the featured cruise agency in all of Cruising Authority's audio and video programming for 2012, offering the show's audience a portal to the cruise industry's best-available rates, discounts, and bonus offers. "We're very pleased to be teaming up with Cruising Authority," said Jeffrey Sherota, Sr. Vice President of CruisesOnly. "As America's largest cruise agency, we're always looking for opportunities to partner with other industry leaders.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) has announced the appointment of Larry Pimentel to the newly created position of president and chief executive officer of Azamara Cruises. Pimentel will have responsibility for the strategic direction and leadership of the deluxe brand to ensure its continuous growth and success. He will report directly to Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of RCCL. Pimentel has more than 25 years of travel industry experience catering to the high-end consumer. Most recently, he served as president, chief executive officer and co-owner of Seadream Yacht Club and was previously president and chief executive officer of Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Classic Hawaii.

Alcatraz Cruises, the National Park Service concessioner of ferry service to Alcatraz Island, has been awarded the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award in the category of Best Low Carbon Transport and Technology. Award winners were announced November 11 at the World Travel Market conference in London. Alcatraz Cruises was a finalist alongside the British website Seat61.com and the Swiss Railway company Swiss Travel System. Only one other US company was honored – Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. For more information on the other winners visit the Responsible Tourism Awards website (www.responsibletoursimawards.com). “Alcatraz Cruises has worked diligently to align all our operations with the best sustainable business models.