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Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) recently booked attractive new orders as part of an expansion of its product portfolio. Now the shipyard is in the press yet again – by creating 40 jobs for engineers at a new office in Hamburg. “In May we will open our new office Flensburg Ship Design in Hamburg to show our flag in this location, which is so important for shipbuilding and shipping within the maritime cluster”, said FSG Managing Director Peter Sierk. “In recent weeks we won new and attractive orders and we are also involved in very promising negotiations with further new customers. This means considerably more work for us and we are in urgent need for competent engineers.” Sierk added. “We are an attractive and flexible employer and we want to offer engineers the opportunity to combine their lives and career in the exciting port and global metropolis Hamburg. For many engineers who are interested in FSG, moving house is a big hurdle and our presence now in Hamburg is designed to remove that obstacle. If people do not want to come to work in Flens- burg, then we will just have to bring the work to the people.” According to Peter Sierk the future of the shipyard lies in its versatility. “We are the world leader in RoRo-Ship building. However, we have to launch many new ideas and projects if we are to remain successful in the market.” He said that because of this, the yard has focussed its attention since last summer on the booming offshore market, among others. “All of this demands a much higher output than in previous years from our design, research and development departments”, he said. “FSG has always believed in using pioneering innovation to stay ahead of its competitors. Sierk is convinced that FSG can only continue to survive successfully on the world market if it maintains its advantages in know-how, in the highest-possible production quality and in absolute delivery and budget reliability. The employment initiative now and the establishment of the Hamburg office are important building blocks in this process.” Sierk stressed that the move to Hamburg will strengthen the innovative clout and competitiveness of FSG in the special ships sector and also benefit the yard’s 700 core employees in Flensburg. “This has absolutely nothing to do with relocating capacities or departments – quite the opposite”, he said. “FSG is growing and is creating 40 real, additional full-time jobs in order to successfully complete the work before it in a way which its own high standards dictate and to the complete satisfaction of its customers.” “Our technical manager Dr Broder Hinrichsen is responsible for building up and hea- ding the new engineering office in Hamburg and he is already addressing this task energetically and with a lot of enthusiasm”, Sierk continued. Broder Hinrichsen said “the team of engineers in Hamburg will work closely and co-operate with the more than 100 members of the design and engineering team actually working at the ship- yard in Flensburg – just like all of us belong to the same Flensburger family. Because of this, it is planned to familiarise the new engineers with operations in Flensburg over a period of several months before they go to work on their own in Hamburg on systems and complete ship sectors. “In this way entire ship designs will be drawn up jointly with colleagues in Flensburg”, Hinrichsen added. The idea, however, is not just to use the new office to process the shipyard’s own designs. Broder Hinrichsen explained: “The decision to set up an office in Hamburg is a signal to all ship owners that they can make use of our services for other project work as well”. Click here to view the article

RAY, SOUNDS GOOD KEEP US IN MIND AND UPDATED. JOHN & JACKIE

HEY JASON, WE WILL SIGN UP, JUST LET US KNOW JOHN & JACKIE

P&O Cruises will fit 18 single cabins on board its 116,017 gross ton Ventura that was introduced in 2008, following the success of such accommodation on board its sister ship Azura that is one year younger, said Carol Marlow, Managing Director of the company that is part of Carnival Corp & plc group. The additional cabins will be built midships on deck 6 and after this has been done, the company has three ships with single accommodation. The 69,153 gross ton Oriana was fitted with two inside single cabins in addition to two berth cabins as part of modifications last autumn. Click here to view the article

Cunard Line, the UK based premium market brand in Carnival Corp & plc group, will switch the focus of its marketing from ships to destinations, Managing Director and President Peter Shanks said. With a three ship fleet, the company now has the hardware that it needs. “We will transform itineraries to introduce more innovative ones,” Shanks said at a presentation in London on Tuesday. The company will operate a total of 13 two night mini cruises in 2013 from Southampton to Hamburg on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, with return flights included in the fare and hotel stays an optional extra as a move to attract first timers to the brand, he pointed out. Another Cunard official said that the Telegraph Cruise Show that was held in London last weekend had produced lots of bookings from people that were new to the Cunard brand, in addition ones that had cruised with the line before. The language in the main brochure will be tuned to make it easier to digest by people that have not cruised with Cunard or with any other line, Shank pointed out. The company will offer 18 Trans-Atlantic voyages next year, including four back to back round trips. “Hundreds of British passengers book such a voyage, they sail seven days to New York, want to spend a day there doing shopping and then sail back without having to use airports,” Shanks continued. There will also be two eight night Trans-Atlantic voyages next year compared to just one in 2012, which was by Queen Victoria earlier this month. Click here to view the article

Despite the best efforts of the travel industry to protest, there's less than a week to go before British travellers suffer yet another hike in the deeply unpopular Air Passenger Duty (APD), the tax imposed on all flights from the United Kingdom. APD goes up by double the rate of inflation on 1 April, it was announced in last week's budget, and will mean the tax cost of a family of four flying to Florida to join a cruise will go up from £240 to £260. Flying to the Caribbean is even more expensive, because of a complicated banding system, and for a family of four, the tax goes up from £300 to £324. There will be yet another increase next year. And anybody who has already booked and paid to travel beyond 1 April will have to pay the difference between the existing level and the new level of APD before checking in. Visitors to Britain also have to pay APD on their flight out of the U.K., which industry leaders claim will have an adverse affect on tourism. Simon Buck, the chief executive of the British Air Transport Association, is reported by The Daily Telegraph as saying: "Passengers departing from U.K. airports already pay the highest taxes on flying in the world and this further increase will do nothing to support the Government's aspiration to grow U.K. tourism and support British jobs." APD was introduced in 2005 and has increased by up to 360 percent since then. Meanwhile, fly-cruising to the Caribbean fell by 13 percent between 2010 and 2011, with cruise lines blaming the drop mainly on the increased cost of getting there. The Passenger Shipping Association, which represents 35 ocean cruise lines, has not issued a statement, but did write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the budget, asking for the banding system to be reviewed and for the government to reconsider its position on APD, to no avail. Click here to view the article

SEATTLE –The Port of Seattle confirms the announcement of two new cruise products for the 2013 Alaska cruise season. Oceania Cruise Lines will be offering the Regatta, while Celebrity Cruises will be offering the Solstice. Early cruise bookings have commenced for both of these new ships departing from Seattle in 2013. The Regatta is the flagship of the Oceania Cruises fleet. Refurbished in 2011, she has an overall length of 594 feet and a capacity of 684 passengers. She will be disembarking and embarking guests from Bell Street Pier at Pier 66, for a total of six calls. Celebrity Cruise’s Solstice—one of the most decorated ships at sea—was built in 2008, will be one of the largest cruise ships to berth in Seattle, with an overall length of 1041 feet and a capacity of 2850 passengers. The Solstice will be making 19 calls, with the bulk of the itineraries being seven day roundtrip cruises departing from Smith Cove Terminal at Terminal 91. Based on economic impact data, it is estimated that each time a homeport cruise vessel docks in Seattle the activity brings an average of over $2 million into the local economy. There are 202 cruise vessel calls scheduled for the 2012 season kicking off on May 6th. The Seattle cruise business supports over 4,000 jobs in the region. Click here to view the article

MSC Cruises is offering its German Facebook fans a unique opportunity to set sail with culinary maestro Kolja Kleeberg. One of Germany’s most popular and successful chefs, Michelin-starred Kolja will be giving a series of demonstrations on board MSC Lirica in June 2012. To celebrate, MSC Cruises is launching a competition on its German Facebook page which will give one lucky person plus partner the chance to join Kolja on board for an amazing 12-night cruisearound Northern Europe. They will also get the chance to send back reports to fellow fans. To win this prize, budding chefs should log on to MSC's German Facebook page, click on ‘like' and enter the competition. They must then submit a photograph of their own original special chocolate desert – a theme suggested by Kolja - which they should also name. “I am thrilled about my first trip on board an MSC ship. We will depart from Hamburg on 1 June and head towards Northern Europe, the Baltics and Russia and I’m looking forward to exploring the culinary influences of these countries,” said Kolja Kleeberg. “In my opinion MSC Lirica is an elegant and contemporary cruise ship and I will take the time to visit the numerous amenities on board such as the MSC Aurea Spa and the theatre.” Kolja is the latest of five top European chefs who have joined the MSC fleet for a series of special cruises. Other chefs who took part are two star Michelin chef Mauro Uliassi (Italy), Michelin starred French chef Gilles Epié, Michelin award winning chef Paul Rankin and the Michelin star winner Paco Roncero (Spain). Click here to view the article

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- March 27, 2012) Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is rolling out several new shore excursions in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe this summer designed for those travelers whose wanderlust is guided by a passion for fine food and wine. New options, such as a sunset stroll and wine tasting in one of Croatia's largest vineyards, a hands-on lesson in Ukrainian cookery, and an exquisite lunch at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Bordeaux, are joining an already expansive collection of shore tours tailored to the traveler who is a gourmet at heart. "These new tours are a great way for our guests to attend dining events and wine tastings or learn about new cooking techniques in the destinations they visit," said Darius Mehta, Silversea's vice president of air and land programs. "They tap into a growing trend among travelers to seek out unique food and wine experiences as a way to understand and connect with other cultures, traditions and people." Over the years, Silversea's destination experts have developed dozens of culinary and wine excursions that have become hugely popular with the line's guests. A cooking class covering French provincial cuisine in Marseille, an Italian cooking class with a countess in Venice, a wine tasting at a bodega in Ibiza, and a cooking class focused on Moroccan cuisine in Casablanca are just a few examples. Some of the NEW tours taking their place alongside these proven epicurean favorites include: Sunset Wine Tasting (Dubrovnik): In southern Dalmatia, the magic of a setting sun provides the perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll and wine tasting set amid one of the region's largest vineyards, owned by Dubrovnik Cellars winery. Participants will savor locally produced smoked ham, cheese, olives and bread as they sample fine wines and learn the history of the winery. Castle to Culinary Delights (Bodrum): Travelers enjoy panoramic views of the Aegean Sea from atop the Castle of St. John before heading to a popular seafood restaurant for a hands-on cooking experience. Participants learn the secrets of Mediterranean cuisine as the chef of the Denizce restaurant shares his techniques, special ingredients and family recipes. Culinary Gothenburg: Gothenburg's largest indoor market, Saluhallen, with its 40 stores and eateries, and Fiskekyrkan (the Fish Church), an indoor fish and seafood market, are showcased on a city tour that culminates with lunch at the elegant Sjömagasinet restaurant. Originally an 18th-century warehouse of the East India Company, this storied waterfront restaurant offers visitors the freshest fish and seafood delicacies cooked to perfection. Odessa and its Cuisine: Travelers cap off a tour of Odessa's historical and architectural monuments with a cooking class and lunch at one of Frantsuzsky Boulevard's iconic 19th-century mansions. The Dacha restaurant, housed in a former summer residence of Odessa's nobility, offers a class in Ukrainian cookery that lets participants join in the preparation of a sumptuous lunch that they will enjoy after class, accompanied by a glass of Ukrainian vodka, a local wine, tea or coffee. Dinner at Classified Wine Château Haut-Bailly (Bordeaux): Sitting majestically overlooking a 30-hectare vineyard in the heart of the Graves and Pessac-Léognan region, Château Haut-Bailly, Grand Cru Classé, stands at the gates of the city of Bordeaux and offers an elegant and intimate setting for a wine tour, tasting and four-course gourmet dinner. Chocolate Flavors of Dubrovnik: Designed for chocolate lovers, this walking tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town, fabled for its cobbled streets and medieval architecture, culminates with a decadent chocolate tasting at the Dubravka restaurant. Participants will enjoy a rich palate of typical local sweets flavored with a selection of dark and white chocolates, fruit, nuts and Mediterranean herbs. Médoc & Château Cordeillan-Bages Lunch (Bordeaux): Following a scenic drive through one of France's most famous wine-producing regions, travelers will learn the techniques of winemaking and sample two vintages at the Château Lynch-Bages winery. Afterwards, a three-course lunch is provided next door at Château Cordeillan-Bages, a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel that has earned two Michelin stars for its cuisine. About Silversea Cruises Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury cruise line industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the expedition ship Silver Explorer, Silversea Cruises' itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises. In the U.S., Silversea has been voted "World's Best" by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and awarded "Best Cruise Line for Luxury Small Ships" by Luxury Travel Advisor (2011). International awards include "World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line" from World Travel Awards (2010); "Five Star Diamond Award" from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2011); "Number One" small-ship line in the Readers' Choice survey conducted by Britain's Condé Nast Traveller magazine (2010); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" Excellence Award by Spain's Cruise News Media Group (2009); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Australia's Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2011); and "Best Small Luxury Cruise Line" according to China's Travel & Leisure magazine (2011). Click here to view the article

P&O Cruises, the UK based contemporary market brand in Carnival Corp & plc group, will focus on music, food and wine next year and it will promote these themes by partnerships, said Carol Marlow, Managing Director of the Southampton based company. The line’s 2013 programme of 200 new cruises calling at 215 ports in 84 countries will feature seven Strictly Come Dancing cruises, with a team from the popular TV show on board and a P&O Cruises Strictly Dance Competition. On the music front, there will be five Classic FM Music Festival at Sea cruises hosted by presenters from Classic FM, the UK based commercial radio station that features classical music. Moving on to food and wine, Marlow noted that two cruises will feature celebrity chefs Marco Pierre White and Atul Kocchar plus wine expert Olly Smith –all of whom have specialty restaurants on board P&O Cruises’ ships. In addition White will offer cooking demonstrations on six cruises and Kocchar will sail on three other cruises, with cookery demonstrations, hosted dinners and masterclasses Click here to view the article

Costa Cruises announced a unique onboard designer boutique concept on the Costa Victoria in Asia. As part of Costa’s “Italy at Sea” theme for the Asian market, it will be the first in Asia to boast of designer fashion boutiques selling top brands at duty-free prices. Costa Victoria will depart for four- to seven-night cruises from the new Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal with calls along the South Korean and Japanese coastline. “Costa Victoria adds a new twist to the Asian cruise market – onboard boutique shopping” explained Mr. Buhdy Bok, Vice President Pacific Asia and China, Costa Cruises. “There’s a large array of high-end fashion stores and boutiques plus there will be a fashion show modeling onboard wares. We are thrilled to be able to bring the new Costa Victoria to Asia and excited at how this ‘fashion cruise’ will be received by our esteemed Asian guests. Choosing Shanghai as the home port for Costa Victoria is important for the growth of Costa Cruises in the Asia Pacific region, and also demonstrates our commitment to promote the city as a leading international shipping center in the region.” Costa Cruises was the first international cruise company to enter the Chinese market and has used this experience to create a bespoke service onboard Costa Victoria. The one-of-a-kind boutique area will call to discerning guests, fashionistas and bargain-hunters alike. There are four fashion boutiques in this part of the ship selling duty-free Gucci accessories, , Longines watches，cosmetics and fine leather goods. Other breakthroughs will also be seen at the other stores, bringing together some of the world’s most desired brands, cosmetics, watches, sunglasses, accessories as well as liquor and tobacco . Refined tastes and faultless fashion is a theme that runs through the very heart of Costa Victoria. The cruise ship has been attentively furnished in an Italian, elegant style. Each deck has been named after an Italian opera and this theme of graceful Italian splendor is found in every element of design. The tranquil Spa pool has been inspired by the splendor of Pompeii and the Capricco bar is tiled with Emilio Tadini’s mosaics. Even the natural beauty of the ocean has been fully exploited and can be savored by walking along the panoramic walks on either side of the ship or in one of 242 veranda cabins. “No other country is quite so renowned for its sense of fashion and style as Italy” Mr. Bok said. “This is a strength we want to emphasize in Costa Victoria, hence the decor and brands that can be found onboard. Italy at Sea is an apt way to describe Costa Victoria as it embodies all of the qualities that make Italy great: fantastic food, fashion and friendly service.” While taking the ‘Italy at Sea’ idea to heart, Costa Victoria has many concurrent Asian elements to immediately put its guests at ease. One of these elements is in the dining options available to guests. Costa Victoria offers a range of complimentary cuisines in four of its five restaurants. In the largest of these restaurants, the Sinfornia, dinner will be served in two sittings the first with traditional Chinese or Italian dishes and the latter with a greater selection of Japanese and South Korean food to choose from. The second largest of these four restaurants, the Fantasia, will appeal to Chinese diners looking for a taste of home. Whereas the fifth restaurant, the Club Il Magnifico, provides a sophisticated setting for the perfect romantic evening. In the evenings one of the world’s top Michael Jackson impersonators, ICE, will perform MJ’s greatest hits in the Festival Showroom. Plus there’s the fashion show that offers guests a more refined form of entertainment in this cavernous, two-deck theatre. Live music, games and competitions complete the nightlife scene in Costa Victoria’s 10 bars and disco. Costa Victoria will stop at several destinations in Japan including the tropical paradise Hososhima/Miyazaki, Wakayama, which boasts the largest hot spring resort, in Japan’s second largest city, Osaka, and the popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area Yokohama and Tokyo, the capital city. In the South Korean part of the itinerary destinations include ‘island of the Gods’ Jeju, the picturesque harbor town of Yeosu and South Korea’s second largest city, Busan. Click here to view the article

WELCOME TO CRUISE CRAZIES GAYLEWHIT'S; HAPPY TO HAVE U ABOARD, JOIN US ON THE DAILY DOCK & PLEASE POST OFTEN JOHN & JACKIE

Viking River Cruises has been bragging that its new 190-passenger "Longships," all named for Norse gods and heroes, would revolutionize river cruising. In fact, the cruise line is so bullish on these vessels that it's ordered a dozen of them, all to be launched by the end of 2013 (six in 2012 and six in 2013). Stepping onto Viking Odin which, along with Viking Idun is the first to debut, it's immediately clear the company has some reason to toot its own horn. The reference to old Viking ships notwithstanding, the German-built Viking Odin and its sister ships represent a totally new take on river hospitality. Forget the old and stodgy; bring on the new. Light fills the beautiful two-story atrium -- so much sunlight there are real daffodils growing. With backlit marble panels rising above a terrazzo floor and grand wooden staircase, and comfortable furnishings in pale shades, the space has magnetic appeal. If the ambience reminds some of Seabourn's Odyssey class, that's not a coincidence -- the vessels share the same lead designer, Norwegian firm Yran & Storbraaten. The atrium previews the smart use of glass, light and subtle colors throughout Viking Odin, but beyond that are a whole bunch of features new to river cruising in Europe, including the two largest real suites (each with separate living room and bedroom) on a riverboat in Europe and a larger number of cabins with full and French balconies. Deserving the biggest buzz is Aquavit Terrace, a lovely open-air cafe on the ship's bow, providing somewhat of a river rarity: an alternative casual dining venue. The designers' creation of such new spaces required a lot of rethinking about the basic structure of river ships. To fit under the bridges and through the locks of Europe's inland waterways, riverboats have to meet specific size requirements. You can't expand length or depth. Instead, Yran & Storbraaten changed the traditional pointy-nosed bows to snub-nosed ones to provide more space for Aquavit. It also positioned interior corridors off-center to accommodate cabins -- full balconies on one side and narrower cabins, some elevated to suites with separate sleeping and living areas, placed sideways on the other side. Less visible but no less cutting-edge are the ship's "green" advances, including hybrid engines, making Odin cleaner and quieter than its competitors. There are even solar panels on the sun deck that help fuel the engines. The ride is slow and smooth -- a wonderful thing about river ships in general since there is no reason to worry about seasickness -- while you pass by scenery that includes castles and vineyards. Viking Odin godmother Joanna Lumley, who played Patsy on the BBC series "Absolutely Fabulous," eloquently described the river cruise experience at Viking Odin's christening this way: "It's like the world is on a cloth and being dragged past you by captains sent from paradise." Viking Odin Fellow Passengers Viking River passengers tend to be 60 and older (sometimes much older). But the "Longships," with their contemporary design, are expected to bring the demographic down, the goal being to appeal to 40- and 50-somethings in addition to Viking River's traditional passengers. Viking Odin Dress Code Casual, comfortable attire is encouraged for both ship and shore. The must-have item is a comfortable pair of walking shoes or sneakers for tours (which may involve cobblestones and other uneven surfaces). Some passengers dress up slightly at night -- think the kind of attire you'd wear to dinner at a country club. Others don't bother to change at all. Save your best outfits (maybe casual dresses for women and collared shirts and blazers for men) for the Captain's Welcome Party and Farewell Dinner Viking Odin Gratuity Tips are not included in the cruise fare. They are paid at the end of the cruise in cash or by credit card. (Euros are the onboard currency, but dollars are also accepted for gratuities.) The recommended amount on Viking's Europe cruises is 12 euros per passenger, per day, which is divided up among the crew. Click here to view the article

Seabourn Cruise Line unveiled its 2013 Europe itineraries, with more than 100 departures aboard the line’s six all-suite ships. The schedule features 180 port calls on voyages ranging from seven to 21 days. The voyages include a 21-day cruise beyond the Arctic Circle aboard Seabourn Pride, 10- and 11-day Mediterranean cruises departing roundtrip from Venice aboard Seabourn Spirit, and 10-day Mediterranean cruises from Athens, Monte Carlo and Barcelona aboard Seabourn Quest. The program will also feature overnight stays in cities including St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Venice, Malta, Barcelona, Istanbul, Edinburgh and Dublin. The 10-day cruises can be combined for a 20-day vacation with different ports at extra savings, and Seabourn Quest’s 10-day cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Monte Carlo can be combined into longer voyages of up to 30 days without repeating ports of call. Seabourn Pride will offer a new 21-day North Cape cruise into the Arctic Ocean calling on Longyearbyen and Ny Aalesund in the Norwegian Spitsbergen islands. Click here to view the article