February 2013 Issue 81
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PRICE $8.25 (INCL GST) FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE 81 16TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION ESTABLISHED 1998 Predictions - Asia will account for 3.7 million passengers in 2017 and grow to 7 million by 2020 – see Page 4 Featuring a comprehensive coverage of Global Cruising for Cruise Passengers, the Trade and the Industry www.cruisingnews.com Editor’s Say Rice on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) made an informal presentation to Captain Taylor presenting him with a Certificate of Appreciation. New Ships As we start our 16th year of publishing Cruising News we are encouraged by the continued growth of the industry world- wide. The current South Pacific cruise season with the new ships is attracting a large number of new cruisers along with many repeat passengers. Then we turn to THIS ISSUE Asia where predictions are for the industry there to account for 3.7 million passengers FrontHIGHLIGHTS Cover: Images from Celebrity in 2017 and grow to 7 million by 2020. We Cruises/Eugene Tan and Ian Hunter look forward to keeping you informed with Fantastic Cruise Season .................... P 4-6 the latest news and information throughout MSC Christening. ............................... P 16 the year. Future of QE2 ..................................... P18 Congratulations ICCA Industry Awards ...................... P 20 Ann Sherry AO SeaDream II & Places Visited............ P 28-30 Sydney’s Macquarie New Look Celebrity Millennium .... P 42 University has River Cruising News.......................... P 46-48 awarded an 3 Photo Gallery ...................................... P 50-51 honorary doctorate March will see the christening of two new to Carnival Australia ships, the MSC Preziosa and AIDAstella. MSC CEO Ann Sherry Preziosa will be christened by screen legend AO in recognition Sophia Loren in the Italian port of Genoa on of her significant 23 March and in the wings will be sister ships contribution to MSC Splendida and MSC Opera. AIDAstella, the government and corporate sectors. the 10th member of the fleet, will have 10 Ms Sherry was cited as a true leader godmothers on the stage for the christening credited with transforming industries that ceremony on the evening of 16 March in she had led. The Doctor of Letters award Rostock-Warnemünde. acknowledged her standing in the business Serving the Community community and the wider community. Ann On Board Celebrity Solstice P30-32 Sherry was appointed CEO of Carnival • Holland America Line has announced “On Australia in 2007 and her time at the helm Deck for a Cause,” a new shipboard giving has seen the transformation of the cruise program that will benefit six international 2013 FEBRUARY industry and double digit annual growth in cancer organisations located in the United consecutive years. States, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom. • By the end of 2012, MSC Cruises’ three- and-a-half year partnership with UNICEF and their joint “Get on Board for Children” initiative has raised two million Euros for an innovative project designed to Rescue by Orion P20 combat poverty and inequality by helping ensure that disadvantaged Brazilian children gain access to quality education. • Here in Australia P&O have an exciting partnership with Save the Rescue Operation Children – see story on Page 37 Recognised Recognising Orion’s involvement in the complex and successful rescue of solo Happy Cruising MSC Splendida & Places Visited P34-36 round-world sailor Alain Delord from the Southern Ocean SAR operation, John John Treacy Plus the latest news and Breaking News - Royal Caribbean International has taken a major step in the information on Global development of the cruise line’s next generation of cruise ships when the first piece Passenger Cruising of steel was cut for the first of two Project Sunshine ships. To celebrate the milestone, Royal Caribbean announced the names of the two new ships – Quantum of the Seas, set Proudly Published in Australia by to debut in 2014 and Anthem of the Seas, which will follow in 2015. The Astor will join Cruise & Maritime Voyages in November this year under a three year seasonal charter to operate twice yearly ocean voyages between the UK, Australia and South Africa and the launch of a summer season of cruises from Fremantle commencing 12 December 2013 www.cruisingnews.com for ABN 71 083 652 019 Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the information published is correct ISSN 1447 - 2112 News Updates & Photo Files Voyager of the Seas departing Sydney – Robert Miller Cruising Industry Presentation on Voyager of the Seas Continues to Grow The current cruise season has introduced many newcomers to cruising and is receiving an incredible number of repeat passengers that cruising statistics for the year 2012 when released at the end of April should show impressive growth for the industry. Ports of call throughout Australia, New 4 Zealand and the South Pacific have benefitted enormously from the cruise ships sailing the region. There is an unprecedented choice of ships available and in the future we should see more of the big ships arriving. Voyager of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice, Carnival Spirit (now based in Australia) and Oosterdam have led the way introducing new experiences for passengers. The quality dining and on board features on all ships are proving to be the attention grabbers as passengers decide on which ship to cruise. It is definitely the beginning of a new era in cruising from Australia. It is now hoped that port facilities will be improved to handle the increased number of ships. As this magazine goes to press many ships on round the world cruises are still to arrive – Europa, Aurora, Seabourn Quest, Queen Victoria, Balmoral, Arcadia, Costa Delziosa, Pacific Princess, Queen Mary 2, Marina and Ocean Princess – visiting various ports in the region. Columbus 2 – Jonathan Crabb Unfortunately Saga Ruby has had to cancel her world cruise because of mechanical problems and is expected to sail a reduced scheduled taking in South America. Unfortunately we will now not see Saga Ruby again as FEBRUARY 2013 FEBRUARY she retires at the end of the year. Voyager of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice and Oosterdam are already booked to return for 2013/14 season. Others with port bookings include Celebrity Millennium, Volendam, Diamond Princess, Amsterdam, Europa, Seabourn Odyssey, Silver Shadow, Aurora, Seven Seas Voyager, Columbus 2, Silver Whisper, Seabourn Sojurn, Pacific Princess, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, Costa Deliziosa, Amadea, Artania, Crystal Symphony, Astor, Balmoral and Ocean Princess and booked during May is The World. Meanwhile the first-ever cruise forum by the Hong Kong Tourism Board was held recently with more than 150 international professionals from the cruise industry, including representatives from the region’s port authorities and tourism bureaux. Through seminars, site visits, networking sessions and other activities, the participants exchanged the latest information on cruise developments in Hong Kong and Asia to develop business collaboration. Among the speakers were industry heavyweights Mr Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO, Carnival Asia; Mr John Tercek, Vice President, Commercial Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Drawing of New Hong Kong Terminal Celebrity Solstice – Sydney – Eugene Tan 5 Ltd; Mr Bruce Krumrine, Vice President of Shore Operations, Europe & Exotica, Princess Voyager of the Seas and Seabourn Odyssey – Robert Miller Cruises; Mr Antonio de Rosa, Vice President, Asia Fleet Operations, Costa Crociere S.p.A; Mr John Stoll, Vice President, Land & Port Operations, Crystal Cruises Inc; Mr Michael Pawlus, Director, Strategic Itinerary Planning & Scheduling, Silversea Cruises Ltd; Mr Graeme Adams, Vice President, Voyage Planning, Port & Land Programs, SeaDream Yacht Club; Ms Ong Huey Hong, Director, Cruise, Singapore Tourism Board; and Dr Zinan Liu, Chairman, Asia Cruise 2013 FEBRUARY Association. Support for cruising in Asia is expected to take a dramatic turn upward according to Carnival Asia CEO Pier Luigi Foschi. He said “Asia will account for 3.7 million passengers in 2017 Silver Shadow – Robert Miller and grow to 7 million by 2020 with the real growth coming from China”. The Asia Cruise Association said that about 1.7 million Asian passengers cruised in 2011. Development of new cruise facilities are under way with the opening of a terminal in Singapore last year and Hong Kong later this year. During the forum the international delegates and members of Hong Kong’s Advisory Committee on Cruise Industry visited the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal with phase one to open in June 2013 The industry will be watching the Asia/Pacific market for the growth trends. Drawing of New Hong Kong Terminal Crystal Symphony – Robert Miller Costa neo Romantica – Robert Miller Rhapsody of the Seas – Auckland Ports Carnival Spirit – John Treacy 6 Exciting New Cruises Carnival Spirit a 2014 for Summer 2013-14 Melbourne Cup Starter Following a tremendous 2012-13 cruise season Royal Caribbean Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a International has announced the addition of three new cruises in its brand new itinerary for Carnival Spirit in FEBRUARY 2013 FEBRUARY 2013-14 Australasian summer season, including two new South Pacific 2014. The race that stops the nation will sailings on Voyager of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. Due to the soon stop the newest and largest ship to growing demand for shorter cruises, Royal Caribbean will also now offer call