Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

Young Adults considering cruise holidays

New research suggests cruise holidays are starting to appeal much more to younger people.

Although cruises are often associated with older travellers, a survey by Mintel suggests that 40 per cent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 would consider taking a cruise in the future.

The research highlights the fact that only four per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds have been on a cruise before, compared with 32 per cent of people aged 65 to 74.

Tom Rees, senior travel and tourism analyst at Mintel, said: "Young adults like the idea of an adventure at sea and the house party atmosphere of an onboard holiday can appeal to many young package holidaymakers as a change from resort-based trips.

"The key is getting the product right. Given the market trend towards shorter cruises departing from UK ports, short themed breaks or even floating music festivals, promoted through social media, can be a way to attract a younger clientele."

Interestingly, Mintel's survey shows that young people see cruises as a good way of discovering new destinations, while more than a quarter think they offer a good way to meet new people.

What do you think of this shift in attitude? Could music festivals on a cruise ship work?

UNICEF ambassador to help launch MSC Divina

MSC Cruises is set to roll out the red carpet this month, with UNICEF goodwill ambassador Maxim Vengerov featuring at the christening of their newest vessel, MSC Divina.

Vengerov, who is also a classical violinist, will feature alongside a variety of star names who will be present at the event in Marseille on May 26th. The 37-year-old Russian will then give a speech to the waiting masses before releasing hundreds of balloons to mark the festivities.

MSC Cruises chief executive Pier Francesco Vago and MSC fleet godmother Sophia Loren will also be in attendance at the event, and will join Vengerov for a special question and answer session planned for the day.

The presence of these stars at the special naming event comes as MSC Cruises and UNICEF look to promote the "Get on Board for Children" initiative.

This a fund created to deal with the poverty seen in the infamous favelas of Brazil, with the group campaigning for better educational facilities for children.

No word has yet been given on whether Vangerov will perform at the christening.

Have you ever been on a cruise holiday with MSC Cruises?

Cunard Host First Transatlantic Wedding

A couple of cruise holiday enthusiasts took the plunge on a recent trip aboard the Cunard liner the Queen Mary 2 - after tying the knot in the mid-Atlantic.

The happy new couple, Barry Maloney and Denise Holding, became the first pairing to marry aboard a Cunard cruise during a transatlantic voyage from Southampton to New York.

Captain Kevin Oprey oversaw the ceremony, with the newlyweds invited up to the bridge after the main event where they were allowed to sound the ship's whistle.

According to the Seatrade Insider, the pair, who own a riding centre in the UK, had been together for nearly 30 years prior to the forming their new union on the recent cruise.

However it was the chance to wed aboard their favourite ship that ultimately proved too good an opportunity to miss.

Do you think getting married at sea is a good idea? Would you do it?

Holland America presents ‘Our Marvellous Oceans’ videos

In collaboration with the Marine Conservation Institute, Holland America Line has released an in-stateroom video series onboard all its 15 cruise ships highlighting the importance of ocean conservation.

Titled "Our Marvelous Oceans," the series was developed to educate Holland America Line guests on important marine conservation issues and feature topics that relate to the oceans around them.

"Our partnership with the Marine Conservation Institute is instrumental in our continued quest to help protect and preserve the oceans on which we sail," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs at Holland America Line. "These videos are just one more element in our extensive conservation program, and we hope our guests take a few moments to watch them and learn more about our efforts and what they, personally, can do while on board and once they leave our ships."

The additional short videos address important ocean conservation issues in key Holland America Line cruising regions, protecting ocean life, destructive fishing practices, climate change, and Holland America Line's environmental protection efforts.

"Holland America Line has been a committed partner in marine conservation. These short videos will help spread the word on all that we, Holland America Line, and its guests can do to protect the marine environment," said Dr. Elliott A. Norse, president and founder of the Marine Conservation Institute.

"This is just one element of the program, but it will extend our message to hundreds of thousands of guests every year. We thank Holland America Line for its dedication to protecting our oceans."

The video series is an extension of "Our Marvelous Oceans," a three-year program announced in 2010 that commits to the exclusive use of sustainably-sourced seafood on Holland America Line's menus, guest and staff education, and support for critical marine conservation biology research. Support for the Marine Conservation Institute's education program also includes annual grants to graduate students and young scientists working in historical marine ecology.

 

 

 

Dublin plans new cruise terminal

 

According to SeaTrade Insider, Dublin Port Company has revealed a Masterplan which includes the building of a new city-centre cruise terminal.

The new cruise facility capable of handling two 300mtr ships adjacent to the East Link Bridge, will accommodate over 135,000 passengers and around 90 cruise ships each season.

The company believes that the location is ideal bringing passengers and crew within easy reach of the city centre shops, eateries and attractions.

The proximity of the port to the airport plus 22,000 city centre hotel beds, half of which are four and five star, means Dublin is also well placed to attract turnaround business, Brenda Daly, marketing manager, Dublin Port Company told Seatrade Insider. ‘Airlift to the US and UK, in particular, is very good,' she added.

The first step towards meeting Dublin’s cruise expansion plans involves a feasibility study currently being undertaken by Bermello Ajamil & Partners. This study will be concluded later this year with a view to having a cruise terminal in place by 2015.

To progress this concept, Dublin Port Company has formed Cruise Dublin, a joint initiative with Dublin City Council and Dublin Chamber of Commerce aimed at further developing the cruise tourism in Dublin, about which more details will be released soon.

Titanic Memorial Cruise

The Titanic memorial cruise, retracing the voyage of the Titanic, departed Southampton last Sunday with many travellers even dressing up for the occasion.

 

The MS Balmoral departed the south coast port as part of the special 12-night cruise, which will see the exact same number of travellers embark on the fateful journey.

The trip was organised to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the ship's sinking on April 14th 1912, which saw 1,517 passengers lose their lives, after the vessel struck an iceberg.

The Balmoral will arrive at the site of the famous collision in the North Atlantic before travelling on to Nova Scotia and then New York, where the original ship had been scheduled to travel to.

A service will take place at the time it sank.

The trip, which was organised in part by Fred Olsen Cruises, will give passengers the chance to enjoy food from the menu of the original ship, while a five-piece band will provide music of the period.

Despite the popularity of the trip, the cruise package has garnered some criticism, amid suggestions it is in poor taste. Do you think the cruise is in bad taste?

Explore the Red Sea with MSC Cruises

Have you ever been to the Red Sea? It’s the most incredible place for snorkelling and diving with a spectacular and colourful underworld just waiting to be explored. And now you can – with MSC Cruises.

Embark on a journey of crystal clear waters, golden sands and historical discovery from November 2^nd 2012.

On this day MSC Armonia will depart from Venice for a nine-day/eight-night cruise, arriving at her new homeport in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt just over a week later. En route she will travel from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez transit canal to the Red Sea, with scheduled stops in Ancona, Italy; Heraklion, Greece and Marmaris, Turkey arriving in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt on 10 November 2012.

From 10 November 2012 through to 6 April 2013, MSC Armonia has a full schedule of 21 8-day/7-night cruises, departing every Saturday from Sharm El Sheikh, with scheduled stops in Safaga, Egypt; Elat, Israel; Aqaba, Jordan and Sokhna Port, Egypt.

Guests will even have the opportunity to combine the positioning cruises to and from Sharm El Sheikh with the first and last cruises of the Red Sea season for the perfect mix of days at sea and calls at port in this stunning region.

The Red Sea will bid farewell to MSC Armonia on 6 April 2013, when she starts her 10-day/9-night return cruise from Sharm El Sheikh to Venice. Scheduled stops are Sokhna Port, Egypt; Limassol, Cyprus; Antalya, Turkey; Rhodes; Heraklion, Greece and Kotor, Montenegro.

During the Red Sea experience, guests can enjoy a wide choice of shore excursions, offering the perfect combination of relaxation, sightseeing and adventure. Whether it’s snorkeling among the region’s unique aquatic wildlife, enjoying the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, visiting Bedouin settlements or touring ancient mines that once belonged to the great pharaohs of Egypt, there really is something here for everyone.

MSC Armonia features 777 beautifully appointed cabins. Its luxurious facilities include four restaurants - offering the finest Mediterranean and international cuisine - several bars and lounges, the incredible MSC Aurea Spa, a mini golf course, numerous boutiques, casino, theatre, nightclub and children’s club.

Fred Olsen Launch Retirement Package

Pensioners travelling on cruise holidays with Fred Olsen could soon be taking advantage of a new package, designed specifically for those nearing retirement.

The new package has been dubbed the "Retirement Celebration" by the firm and is set to be made available with any sailing departing from January 2013.

According to Fred Olsen, the new deal has been designed to help passengers celebrate retirement as a "time to relax and take it easy" by the firm.

The package includes a special champagne and canapés service delivered to the passenger's cabin along with a greetings card and special celebration cake.

Priced at £45 sterling per person, the retirement package must be booked at least 28 days before the departure.

Further details of the new package will be published in Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Worldwide Cruises 2013-14 brochure, which is being released in June 2012.

Would you go on a retirement cruise?

P&O Cruises Promise Cocktail of Cruises in 2013

P&O Cruises have promised a cocktail of cruise holidays for 2013.

The comments came as P&O Cruise celebrated its 175th anniversary with the unveiling of an exclusively made cocktail set to go on sale across the company's fleet.

Fans were treated to a special taste of the new drink at the Bombay Sapphire bar in London, with the new cocktail proving one of a number of additions to the P&O stable.

Ms Marlow promised that 2013 would bring a "really broad programme of cruises with a carefully considered range of onboard experiences and themes" for holidaymakers.

The new cocktail offering, Brodie's Bombay Cooler, is among these new additions.

Mixing gin with elderflower, cranberry juice and tonic water, the drink gets its name from P&O Cruises co-founder Brodie McGhie Wilcox.

It represents one of the many new additions to the firm's holiday mix, with 200 new cruises set to be offered through the firm from March 2013.

Among the highlights on offer will be a special series of seven Strictly Come Dancing cruise performances and the arrival of chef Marco Pierre White aboard the company's fleet.

MSC Preziosa to offer technology, elegance and exclusivity

MSC Cruises new ship is named MSC Preziosa and will become the 13th addition to the MSC Cruises’ fleet.

“The new ship represents an investment of 550 million euros and will be delivered at the end of March 2013.”

“MSC Preziosa will sail the Mediterranean, exploring the beauty of Greek Islands, which represents the highlight of European cruising.”

MSC Preziosa will boast 1,751 cabins, 26 lifts, and 18 decks, 14 of them for passengers. Guests will be able to enjoy four main restaurants, two speciality restaurants, 21 bars, a casino, four swimming pools, including an infinity pool, 12 whirlpools, a bowling alley, a sports area with playing fields, a fitness centre, a children’s area and the superb MSC Aurea Spa.

An exclusive feature of MSC Preziosa - and of all fantasia-class ships in the MSC fleet - is the MSC Yacht Club. Privileged passengers staying in the 69 exclusive MSC Yacht Club suites will be able to take advantage of the private bar, solarium, hydro-massage pools, and the spectacular glass-walled observation lounge with amazing ocean views. A butler service will offer assistance at check-in, transport luggage, unpack, serve traditional English afternoon tea as well as arranging cigars and beverages, booking tables at restaurants, treatments in the MSC Aurea Spa, ad hoc excursions and even arrange private parties.

MSC Preziosa’s total construction is 45% complete, and her mechanical zones are 70% complete. The best, however, is yet to come! MSC Cruises will soon begin the fitting and furnishing of the 333 metre long, 38 metre wide ship and work its unique Mediterranean magic on turning MSC Preziosa into a stylish masterpiece and a perfect mix of advanced technology, elegance and exclusive services.

Cruise guests who want to play their part in reducing carbon emissions can also relax in the knowledge that MSC Preziosa’s green features, including an advanced waste water treatment system (AWT) and advanced energy saving systems, with a focus on air-conditioning, will gain the same impressive industry-leading ecoship and cleanship credentials as her sister ship MSC Divina.