http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/ en david.simpson@seaview.co.uk Copyright 2012 2012-02-04T17:11:52+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/silversea-puts-london-back-on-its-map-with-new-reservations-team/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/silversea-puts-london-back-on-its-map-with-new-reservations-team/#When:16:11:52Z Silversea’s new London-based reservations team is up and running.Following the announcement that the new London office, in Westminster, will once again handle reservation calls for the UK, Europe & Middle East markets, Silversea  has hired a new experienced multi-lingual team of reservations consultants. Silversea’s London-based reservations team taking calls They will work closely alongside the sales, marketing and administrative teams, to help meet the increasing demand of bookings and ensure that business continues to expand in this region. The new team has undergone intensive training which not only included the in-house reservation system and booking processes, but also ithe opportunity to experience the product first-hand when they sailed onboard Silver Spirit. Mike Bonner, general manager for the UK, Ireland & Middle East, commented “We believe they will be an invaluable addition to the company, bringing a vast range of industry experience between them. Our travel partners will now benefit from our new team reacting and responding more quickly to their needs and queries.” Reservations for the US, Canada, South America and Asia Pacific markets will continue to be handled by Silversea’s offices in Fort Lauderdale and Sydney. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, Silversea Cruises 2012-02-04T16:11:52+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/po-and-cunard-impose-8-a-day-cruise-fuel-supplements/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/po-and-cunard-impose-8-a-day-cruise-fuel-supplements/#When:14:09:46Z The global increases in the price of fuel is once again taking its toll, with P&O Cruises and Cunard Line introducing £8-a-day fuel supplements for all new 2012/2013 bookings made from Monday (February 6).The previous 2011/2012 fuel supplements will remain the same. 2012/2013 departures will incur a £8 per person per day supplement, up to a maximum of £250 per person. 2011/2012 departures will incur a £6 per person per day supplement, up to a maximum of £120 per person. The supplement will apply to every paying passenger travelling, including third and fourth person fares and paid children’s places. No supplement will be applied to free child places. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises 2012-02-04T14:09:46+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/fred.-olsen-cruise-lines-returning-to-liverpool-in-2013/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/fred.-olsen-cruise-lines-returning-to-liverpool-in-2013/#When:11:36:46Z Cruise guests in Liverpool will be welcoming Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines back to the city in spring/summer 2013.Boudicca is making a return to this popular departure port with 10 cruises, on a variety of worldwide itineraries, between April and August 2013. Boudicca returns to Liverpool in 2013 after a year’s absence Matt Grimes, Director of Planning for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “After a year’s absence, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is excited to be returning to Liverpool for the summer 2013 cruise season. “Our loyal guests have asked us to do so and I am sure that they will be delighted that, once again, they will be able to enjoy a Fred. Olsen cruise without having a long journey to a south coast port to start their holiday.” Boudicca will be offering a wide range of cruise itineraries from Liverpool in 2013, of varying durations – from a 12-night Canary Islands cruise in April 2013 to a four-night mini-cruise in August 2013. Fred. Olsen will also be adding Harwich and Belfast to its list of regional departure ports in 2013. Together with the return to Liverpool in 2013, this means that Fred. Olsen is able to operate a vessel within only a two hours’ drive from 80 per cent of the UK population. Cruise News, Cruise Ships, Cruise Lines, Fred Olsen 2012-02-03T11:36:46+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/crystal-cruises-widens-eating-choices-with-evening-bistro/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/crystal-cruises-widens-eating-choices-with-evening-bistro/#When:10:01:40Z Despite boasting almost almost a dozen dining choices on each ship, Crystal Cruises’ most popular daytime gathering spot, The Bistro, is expanding to evening hours.Reflecting the space’s European-style sidewalk café ambiance, the complimentary menu will offer “small bites”, desserts and “midnight” snacks, along with premium wines and flavoured coffees. The Bistro will be open in the evening to add a new eating alternative The new nightly café debuts in April on Crystal Symphony and in June on Crystal Serenity, shortly after the ships go all-inclusive. The Bistro has long been a meeting place for cruisers due to its central location and quick, easy access to continental breakfast, fresh fruits, afternoon snacks and wide selection of teas and coffees, from morning to late afternoon. Signature Guy Buffet china and Six-Star service remains at night, but the gastronomic offering is greatly expanded: 6pm to 8pm: Charcuterie of cured meats, prosciuttos and pâtés, plus international cheeses paired with premium wines and champagne 8pm to 11pm: Artisan cheeses with complementary accompaniments such as truffle honey and fig chutney, plus an assortment of fresh fruits and desserts including a chocolate fountain and petit fours handmade by onboard pastry chefs, with fine wines, digestifs and hot drinks 11 pm to 12am: Late-night munchies such as mini-sandwiches, freshly-baked pizzas, quiche, tandoori chicken and trendy beef “sliders”. “In traditional Crystal luxury fashion, our evening Bistro brings onboard the elegance and international panache of a European café experience - a central place to meet, people-watch and enjoy a glass of wine or espresso and a snack,” says vice president Philip Ordever. “In addition, this expansion really enhances the culinary and social options for guests who spend a full day sightseeing and like to mix up their evening dining.” Casual dining on deck is also offered most evenings with a new Chinese “Comfort Food” menu enhancing the gourmet choices on Crystal Serenity. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises 2012-02-02T10:01:40+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/psa-welcomes-post-costa-concordia-cruise-industry-operational-safety-review/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/psa-welcomes-post-costa-concordia-cruise-industry-operational-safety-review/#When:16:40:12Z The Passenger Shipping Association has welcomed the announcement by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) that in response to the Costa Concordia incident and as part of the industry’s continuous efforts to review and improve safety measures, they have launched a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review.The PSA, European Cruise Council and CLIA are fully committed to working with the International Maritime Organisation, governments and regulatory bodies, including Parliament and the European Commission, to implement any necessary regulatory changes. The Operational Safety Review will include a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety. As best practices are identified, they will be shared among CLIA members and any appropriate recommendations will be shared with the IMO.  Recommendations will be made on an ongoing basis. Key components of the Review An internal review by CLIA members of their own operational safety practices and procedures concerning issues of navigation, evacuation, emergency training, and related practices and procedures Consultation with independent external experts Identification and sharing of industry best practices and policies, as well as possible recommendations to the IMO for substantive regulatory changes to further improve the industry’s operational safety  Collaboration with the IMO, governments and regulatory bodies to implement any necessary regulatory changes In a statemrnt, the CLIA said: “While the cruise industry has an outstanding safety record, CLIA is fully committed to understanding the factors that contributed to the Concordia incident and is proactively responding to all maritime safety issues. “The Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review will enable the industry to do so in a meaningful and expedited manner.” Cruise News, PSA 2012-02-01T16:40:12+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/fred.-olsen-cruise-lines-to-sail-from-belfast-in-2013/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/fred.-olsen-cruise-lines-to-sail-from-belfast-in-2013/#When:15:41:06Z Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will make tweo sailings from Belfast Harbour in 2013, with the 880-guest Boudicca making two turnaround visits in October 2013.She will be offering a 12-night Iberian and two-night mini cruise to Liverpool. Director of planning Matt Grimes said: “This is great news for all our guests living in the local area, as previously they have had to endure an expensive flight or long ferry crossing to reach our ships. “Now, they can choose from an autumn escape to the sun or a mini cruise to Liverpool, where Boudicca will berth right in the heart of this vibrant city. “The addition of this new regional departure port means that Fred. Olsen is able to operate a vessel within a radius of only 100 miles from 90% of the UK population, further enhancing our reputation as the UK’s local cruise line with a global choice of itineraries.” Joe O’Neill, commercial director or Belfast Harbour, said: “We previously worked alongside Fred. Olsen in 2007, when 500 local people embarked on the Black Prince to begin their cruise. “In recent years, Belfast Harbour has invested significantly in its facilities to further develop Belfast’s port as a tourism gateway to Northern Ireland; consequently, we are delighted to see the cruise facilities now being used for the benefit of local people.” Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will also be adding Harwich to its list of regional departure ports in 2013, with Black Watch operating four itineraries from the Port in May and June 2013. This means that guests living in the local area can take advantage of Harwich International Port’s excellent road and rail connections, and state-of-the-art facilities. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, Fred Olsen 2012-01-31T15:41:06+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/history-made-as-silver-explorer-guests-set-foot-on-elephant-island/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/history-made-as-silver-explorer-guests-set-foot-on-elephant-island/#When:15:05:19Z The Silver Explorer and its expedition team have accomplished a first in the ship’s history, landing guests at Point Wild, Elephant Island where survivors of the Shackleton Expedition lived under two lifeboats for more than four months while hoping for rescue.After attempting to take guests to Elephant Island for nearly 10 years, Silver Explorer’s captain Alexander Golubev was able to tuck the Silver Explorer into a small and slightly sheltered bay just to the West of Point Wild, thanks to good weather conditions. Expedition team leader Robin West and his team of nine, including biologists, geologists and an historian, assisted 120 guests on zodiacs one at a time, to explore this historic place - one of the most desolate and isolated places in the world. Silver Explorer guests face up to the penguins at Point Wild, above, and the expedition team with the monument to Ernest Shackleton Guests observed the 100m x 30m strip of land, at low tide, where Ernest Shackleton’s determined shipmates made a home during the winter of 1916. The zodiacs also passed through a small channel into West Bay which provided great views of Cape Wild and the Furness Glacier cascading into the ocean, plus meet Chinstrap Penguins and see several male Fur Seals and one Weddell Seal relaxing on an exposed beach platform. Robin West commented: “Landing in the exact same place where Sir Ernest Shackleton stepped ashore nearly 100 years ago was a truly significant and historic experience not only for Silver Explorer and the expedition team, but for our guests too. “It is one of the best known stories of early exploration in Antarctica and our guests had the opportunity to be part of this.” Silver Explorer’s unstructured itinerary to ‘Cruise and Explore the Antarctic Peninsula’ allows the captain and the Silversea team to determine the exact itinerary as the voyage progresses, as conditions can vary so much in the Polar Regions. Both guests and crew can take full advantage of the available conditions to explore as many sights and make as many zodiac excursions and landings as possible. The real thing at Point Wild in 1916, and beneath, a Silver Explorer dinghy at exactly the same spot Combine true expedition cruising with an elegant onboard lifestyle with Silversea Expeditions. Offering two 10-day trips from £6,339 per person, on an all-inclusive basis, voyage 7226 departs December 3 and voyage 7227 departs December 13 from Ushuaia, Argentina. Silver Explorer departs Ushuaia, cruises through the Drake Passage and then cruise/explores the Antarctic Peninsula, before returning to Ushuaia. Price is per person, based on two people sharing a View Suite and includes all shore excursions, port charges, government fees and taxes. Economy air available from £2,299 per person. Fares for voyages embarking/disembarking Ushuaia include economy class charter air service between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, plus transfers between Ushuaia airport and pier, on day of embarkation and disembarkation. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, Silversea Cruises 2012-01-28T15:05:19+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/costa-offers-concordia-survivors-11000-compensation/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/costa-offers-concordia-survivors-11000-compensation/#When:19:43:02Z Costa Cruises has offered all surviving Costa Concordia passengers a minimum of €11,000 in compensation in the wake of the catastrophe that left the cruise liner wrecked off the Tuscan coast of Italy two weeks ago.Each passenger would also receive a refund on the cruise and the costs of their journey home. The offer, negotiated by consumer groups, applies to all passengers regardless of age. Anyone accepting the deal would have to drop all future litigation, and would receive payment within seven days. Costa Concordia, carrying 4,000 passengers and crew, ran aground on a sandbank close to the Italian island of Giglio on Friday January 13, before partially capsizing. So far 16 bodies have been recovered and another 16 still are listed as missing. The captain has been blamed by the company for the disaster. Costa’s compensation offer does not apply to crew members, the 100 or so injured or the families who lost loved ones. Roberto Corbella, who represented Costa in the negotiations, said the deal offered passengers a speedy and “generous compensation”. The Dutch salvage firm Smit will tomorrow begin extracting the stricken vessel’s 2,380 tonnes of oil in order to prevent it leaking in to the sea. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises 2012-01-27T19:43:02+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/carnival-uks-customer-care-programme-wins-recognition/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/carnival-uks-customer-care-programme-wins-recognition/#When:09:49:00Z Carnival UK has been rewarded for going the extra mile in helping passengers and crew when things don't go according to plan.Its customer care and communications manager Andrew Baldwin was presented with The Penny Akam Unsung Hero in Travel award at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards ceremony in London on Wednesday evening. The award was in recognition of the innovative customer Care programme he set up, designed and implemented to support customers and crew in times of difficulty. P&O Cruises was also named Favourite Cruise Company for the fifth year running. This award was voted for by readers of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday and was presented at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “We are all so proud of Andrew for being named the ‘unsung hero’ – our Care programme was implemented to ensure that we provide the best possible service to our customers in the times that they need us most. “With more than 30,000 passengers and crew on our ships at any one time, it is inevitable that sometimes things don’t go as planned. Whether this is an accident on shore or a family illness at home, the Care team provides the support and assistance needed in these situations. “We are also delighted to have been chosen as favourite cruise company for the fifth year running – this shows that we are really getting it right and giving our customers exactly what they want.” Cruise News, Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises 2012-01-27T09:49:00+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/economy-leads-po-cruises-to-abandon-azura-2013-world-cruise/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/economy-leads-po-cruises-to-abandon-azura-2013-world-cruise/#When:16:55:43Z P&O Cruises has taken the "difficult decision" to cancel Azura's 2013 world cruise.Instead the ship will be redeployed to the Caribbean for a season of two-week cruises. Azura will cruise in the Caribbean instead of sailing her epic world cruise A statement sent by P&O Cruises to agents today said: “Based on the success of our recent world cruise programmes, we took the decision last year to increase the number of world cruise holidays for 2013. “Due to current economic circumstances however, we are seeing a growing preference for shorter cruises which leads us to believe that it may well be difficult to fill our enlarged world cruise programme next year. “Therefore we have taken the difficult decision to redeploy Azura from her scheduled world cruise in 2013 and instead offer two week cruises on board the ship in the Caribbean. “Passengers who are booked on cruise no A301 are being contacted via our Reservations department today and passengers will also receive a follow up letter confirming the cancellation. “We will notify you of Azura’s new deployment programme as soon as it is available.” Cruise News, Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises 2012-01-26T16:55:43+00:00