p18 Cruise Oct23 20/10/09 17:42 Page 18
Cruise
Lee Hayhurst
020 7921 8156
lhayhurst@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit ttglive.com/cruise
NCL signs up Jet2
In brief
■ Medical bill warning over ship insurance
in Gem of a deal
More than a third of cruise customers risk hefty
medical bills because they do not take out spe-
cialist cruise insurance cover, according to
provider AllClear. The company said too many
Sara Macefield.
Park is developing plans for a regular online people rely on conventional travel insurance poli-
NCL HAS sealed its first air charter deal with blog in the lead-up to the launch of NCL’s new cies that might not cover them for missing shore
Jet2, giving it guaranteed seats on the carrier’s mega-ship the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic, excursions or if they have pre-existing medical
services from Manchester and Edinburgh to which launches in June. conditions and need to be taken off the ship.
Venice. Details of planned inaugural celebrations
The move is designed to give the cruise line’s including a two-night cruise from Southampton ■ Silversea unveils Grand Voyages sailings
regional customers a better choice of direct were released this week. Luxury operator Silversea has revealed details
flights to the Italian city, where Norwegian Gem An inaugural two-night sailing from of 17 specially tailored longer Grand Voyages for
will be based from April to October. Southampton on June 22 has been confirmed. 2010. The trips, described as “leisurely” span
NCL hopes to unveil a similar arrangement for After her Southampton inaugural, Epic will 30 to 91 days with many ports of call in off-the-
customers in the south-east shortly. leave for New York on July 2 and operate a beaten-track destinations.
“One of the biggest challenges of Venice is further three-night cruise over the Indepen-
getting people there because there is not a large dence Day weekend. ■ Crystal Cruises launches themed cruises
amount of air lift,” UK general manager Stephen Meanwhile, NCL has named Trygve Vorren and Crystal Cruises has unveiled a programme of
Park said. Hakan Svedung as the captains of the ship and themed cruises for 2010. They include
“By taking guaranteed allocations, our cus- Klaus Lugmaier and Sean Wurmhoeringer its science and technology, food and wine, film and
tomers will get reasonable departures out of hotel directors. theatre, big band and golf. To mark the line’s
the UK.” “We chose these seasoned veterans to lead 20th anniversary there is also a special pro-
Prices start at £869 for a one-week Greek Isles the onboard team that will launch the most im- gramme of events, in addition to the line’s annual
fly-cruise on Norwegian Gem from Manchester portant project in the company’s history,” said President’s Cruise. Prices start from £2,365 based
or Edinburgh next May. Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s chief executive officer. on a seven-night Mediterranean voyage from
Athens to Rome departing May 26.
Promotion for Chi
■ Aruba economy boosted as cruise visits rise
A boom in the number of ships visiting the Dutch
at MSC Cruises
Caribbean island of Aruba is seeing the sector
becoming an increasingly important part of its
economy. The first six months of this year saw
MSC Cruises has promoted reservations and 4.4% growth taking visitor numbers from
operations manager Milica Chi to the position of 497,815 to 519,759, in July and August 16 ships
business development manager. called at the island, up from seven last year, and
She will be responsible for working with travel next year 296 visits are scheduled.
agents in the north of England and Northern Ire-
land. ■ Ace to hold seminar in Portsmouth
Stephen Moffett, MSC Cruises UK and Ireland The Association of Cruise Experts will hold a
director of sales, said: “Milica has a broad range seminar in Portsmouth on Monday when Fred
of experience and an exceptional understanding Olsen Cruise Line’s Boudicca is due in port.
of MSC Cruises’ core business and the environ-
PRINCE SEND-OFF: Fred Olsen Cruises said ment in which it operates. ■ P&O Cruises’ Sillence moves to Seabourn
farewell to the smallest ship in its fleet last “Her promotion complements the existing The Yachts of Seabourn has announced the
week with a lunch for trade partners on- team and strengthens their ability to deliver a appointment of former P&O Cruises and Princess
board. Black Prince is due to relocate to high quality service and provide travel agents Cruises senior reservations consultant Jo Sillence
Venezuela where it will operate under new with the product knowledge required to secure to the newly created position of sales support
ownership as Ola Esmeralda. Pictured are passenger bookings.” manager.
Peter Beadles (left), Reader Offers Limited; Chi has worked in the UK office of MSC Cruises
Dawn Jordan, Bath Travel; and Lol Nichols; since 2007 and led a restructure of its reserva-
ttglive.com
For the very latest cruise news,
general sales manager, Fred Olsen tions, administration and ticketing departments.
visit ttglive.com/cruise
18 23.10.2009
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