20 SPECIAL FEATURE
20 SPECIAL FEATURE CRUISES Silversea to Lengthen Silver Spirit Ship Vodohod Project Vodohod Orders New Cruise Ship Russian company Vodohod has signed a contract with United Shipbuilding Corporation for the construction of a four-deck passenger cruise vessel, the PV300LMPP-110. Completion of building and testing of the passenger vessel is scheduled for 2019 and finishing and handover to the customer by the beginning of 2020. Vodohod said that funding of the construction is carried out as part of governmental programme “Development of shipbuilding for 2013 – 2030” of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. The PV300LMPP-110 will be 141 metres long and 16.8 metres wide. Passenger capacity will be 342 with crew and service staff of 144 people. Cabins will be provided with French-style balconies and the size of the standard cabin will be 19 square metres; a suite cabin will measure 30 square metres. A spokesman for Vodohod said the cruise vessel will in fact be a modern floating hotel created with the use of the most recent technological developments Hall 25 / Stand 123 Silversea has unveiled plans for its first-ever ship lengthening. The transformation of Silver Spirit will start this month at the Palermo shipyard of Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups. Silver Spirit will be lengthened by inserting a prebuilt 49-footlong midsection housing six Silver Suites, 26 Veranda Suites and two Panorama Suites. Technical upgrades will also be implemented. Christian Sauleau, Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations at Silversea Cruises, said: “Based on the wonderful feedback from guests sailing aboard our beautiful Silver Muse, we believe the comprehensive makeover we have planned for Silver Spirit will enrich the onboard experience and be equally appreciated by guests.” Giorgio Rizzo, Senior Vice President Services of Fincantieri, added: “The lengthening of a ship always entails a rare level of complexity. Today our group and the Palermo shipyard boast an established and recognised experience in this kind of operations, confirmed by the project that Silversea has assigned us” Hall 10.1 / Stand 117 Silver Spirit © 2013 Ralph Grizzle Rostock Cruise Festival to Debut this September The first Rostock Cruise Festival will take place in Rostock- Warnemünde from September 14-16 September, 2018. Matthias Fromm, Managing Director of Rostock Marketing and Tourist Board, said this new cruise event is evidence of the successful development of the Hanseatic and university city in the cruise sector: “In 2018, Rostock will be fully focused on the 800th birthday of the city. With Rostock Cruise Festival, Rostock-Warnemünde commends itself yet again as an attractive cruise port. We are delighted to be breaking a record as we expect 43 ships to make over 200 calls this year.” In consultation with the Hamburg Convention Bureau, Fromm said that Rostock Cruise Festival will alternate every two years with Hamburg Cruise Days. “With this wonderful event, Warnemünde will be a hotspot for cruise fans from September 14-16. We invite our holidaymakers and guests to experience the ocean giants first hand on the beach against one of the most beautiful backdrops in the Baltic Sea region” Hall 6.2a / Stand 106 Explore West Africa with Variety Cruises Variety Cruises has launched its new programme, the Rivers of West Africa, with two sailing locations in Dakar and Banjul. It features an eight-day cruise in the waterways of Senegal and Gambia which will start in early April. The company’s third generation owner, Constantine Venetopoulos, will join this journey that depart from Banjul on April 8. The one sailing from Dakar, the capital of Senegal, will start on April 14. Variety Cruises will offer passengers specifically selected tours including visiting natural reserves and experiencing cultural customs. Venetopoulos said he looks forward to welcoming passengers with luxury experiences on board and exciting explorations in West Africa. He said: “With what Variety Cruises offers, Gambia turns out to be a top Harmony G exotic destination to relax, a place to learn, a place to reflect, and a place to enjoy. The sense of luxury doesn’t just lie in luxury goods purchase, but also means rare experiences in exploring diversified cultures” Hall 6.2a / Stand 106 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 8 th March 2018 www.itb-berlin-news.com
ADVERTORIAL SPECIAL FEATURE CRUISES 21 Norwegian Cruise Line Prepares To Set Sail With Latest Ship Norwegian Bliss will start its inaugural cruise in April Kevin Bubolz Managing Director, Norwegian Cruise Line Europe This June will see the arrival of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 16 th ship, Norwegian Bliss. Kevin Bubolz, new Managing Director of Norwegian Cruise Line Europe, tells ITB Berlin News about the new ship and plans to promote its inaugural cruise. We launched the Race to Bliss campaign in order to promote the upcoming new ship Norwegian Bliss in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to travel agents, media and industry partners. The most spectacular highlight on board is the longest racing track at sea, so we held seven roadshow events for travel agents on various race tracks in December 2017, allowing our travel partners to feel the speed themselves and to qualify for the final race on board Norwegian Bliss during her inaugural cruise from April 19-21. This ship will have a couple of real “firsts” – making it different from any other. Please tell us more. Norwegian Bliss will be our sixteenth ship and will sail to Alaska and the Caribbean with select voyages to the Mexican Riviera beginning in June 2018. Norwegian Bliss will boast many firsts at sea for the European market including the largest competitive two level electric-car race track at sea and an open-air laser tag course. Other amenities are, for example, The Waterfront, two 180-degree observations lounges and an expansive pool and sundeck featuring two spacious pools and six hot tubs. What makes your cruises different from any others? Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 51-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising. Most notably, Norwegian Cruise Line revolutionised the cruise industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal cruise vacation on their schedule with no set dining times, a variety of entertainment options and no formal dress codes. In 2016, Norwegian Cruise Line introduced Premium All Inclusive. From February, our guests benefit from 60 minutes of free Wi-Fi per person as part of their Premium All Inclusive offering. Hall 25 / Stand 160 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 8 th March 2018
