MSC Cruises Introduces New Flagship

In a spectacular launch event held at the Italian port city of Naples on 18 Dec 2008, MSC Cruises christened its latest vessel and flagship, the 133,500 GRT MSC Fantasia. Measuring 1,092 feet long, 196 feet high and 124 feet wide, the ship is the largest built for a European ship owner and can accomodate 3,274 guests in its 1,637 cabins.

 

Over 80% of the staterooms onboard MSC Fantasia offer ocean views, many from private balconies. The vessel is also the first to introduce a new category of luxury accomodation, the MSC Yacht Club. Offering 99 suites, each between 247 and 570 sq feet and furnished as a luxurious yacht, cruisers enjoy an exclusive personal butler service, a large lounge, Conciergerie with Swarovski crystal stairs and other reserved spaces.

 

The MSC Fantasia boasts over 290,000 sq feet of common space that includes the 17,384 sq feet Aurea Spa, 5 swimming pools, 12 whirlpool baths and an Acqua Park with 150 fountains. Onboard, guests may enjoy shopping, unique live entertainment each night in the magnificent L’Avanguardia theatre that seats 1,700, catch a movie at the interactive 4-D cinema or test their skills on a Formula 1 simulator. Dining options are provided by the ship’s 5 restaurants and 19 bars, including the Manhatten Jazz Bar boasting a distinct New York style.

 

Currently on its maiden voyage, MSC Fantasia will be based in Genoa sailing the Mediterranean Sea. MSC Cruises is the 3rd largest cruise operator in the world, with 9 ships sailing around the world.

Marriott International Opens New Hotel In Hong Kong

Marriott International has opened the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel, a 658-room property attached to the Asiaworld Expo exhibition center at Hong Kong International Airport. Located 10 kilometers away from Hong Kong Disneyland and connected to the central business district by a 27 minute express train service, the hotel allows guests to experience the attractions of Hong Kong while providing a sanctuary from the bustling city.

 

Featuring a sea or golf course view, each of the 625 guest rooms and 33 suites at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel is equipped with an extensive list of amenities. A large bed with luxurious bedding, in-room safe, cable/satellite television, mini-bar and coffee/tea-making facilities are available to guests. Business travellers enjoy a spacious work desk with high speed internet access.

 

The hotel offers a variety of dining options, with 6 restaurants and bars on-site, such as Marriott’s famous Man Ho Restaurant serving aunthentic chinese cuisine and the Velocity Bar and Grill, a modern sports bar. For recreation, the property’s close proximity to biking and hiking trails, golf courses and numerous water sports outlets keep guests occupied. On site, guests enjoy a fully-equipped health club with an indoor pool and Marriott’s signature full-service Quan Spa.

 

The Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel is Marriott International’s 5th branded property in the Special Administrative Region, joining the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong, Renaissance Hotel Kowloon and the Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong.

Singapore Airlines Adds Kuwait To Network; Increase Services To Abu Dhabi, Dubai And Cairo

In an expansion of its Middle East network, Singapore Airlines has announced it will operate flights from Singapore to Kuwait from 15 March 2009 and increase flight frequencies to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Cairo. The announcement marks Singapore Airlines’ return to Kuwait since the late 1970s, when it operated flights to Europe via the Gulf state.

 

The new 4 times weekly service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays via Abu Dhabi using a 2-class Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Flight SQ 458 will depart Singapore at 1405 hrs, landing in Abu Dhabi at 1735 hrs before continuing to Kuwait City at 1835 hrs, where it will arrive at 1915 hrs. The return flight, SQ 457, departs Kuwait City at 2030 hrs, arriving at 2305 hrs in Abu Dhabi for a brief stopover, before taking off the next day at 0005 hrs for Singapore to arrive at 1125 hrs.

 

Kuwait will be the airline’s 6th destination in the Middle East. With the additional services, Singapore Airlines will operate daily between Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The airline currently operates 3 times weekly flights via the Emirati capital to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

 

Singapore Airlines has also announced it will increase frequencies to Cairo from the current 3 times weekly to 4 times weekly from 12 March 2009. Flight SQ 492 will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays via Dubai, bringing the number of frequencies between Singapore and Dubai to 21 times weekly, of which 17 flights operate beyond to Cairo, Istanbul, Moscow and Riyadh.

Ten Cruise Lines Announce Suspension Of Fuel Supplement

As oil prices continue to fall, 3 major cruise operators, Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, have announced they will move toward eliminating fuel surcharges across their lines.

 

Carnival Corp. was the first to announce that fuel surcharges will be eliminated for cruises departing on or after 17 December 2008 on Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd will suspend fuel supplements for voyages on Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Carribean International on or after 1 January 2009.

 

The announcements are welcome news for cruisers who have faced increasing fuel surcharges since Fall 2007, as the price of oil rose dramatically. With global oil prices at more manageable levels, cruise lines are targeting 2010 as the year when surcharge-free cruising would begin again. Most lines have also implemented fuel surcharge refunds in the form of onboard credit for guests if oil prices remained stable at a pre-determined level.

Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Opens

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts has opened its latest hotel in Vietnam with the Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi, a 5-star property in the heart of the Vietnamese capital. Located on the busy Ly Thuong Kiet street, the city’s many attractions are easily accessible from the property, with the Hanoi Tower and Quan Su Temple a short walk away and the Opera House and Old Quarter within 5 minutes by taxi.

 

The colonial-style hotel boasts 154 guest rooms, equipped with LCD television, personal safe, a large work area with internet and wi-fi access, mini bar and coffee/tea-making facilities. 6 specially designed for female business travellers feature a different colour theme, a movable make-up mirror, ironing board with iron and additional bathroom amenities.

 

Facilities at the Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi include Mangosteen, an all-day dining restaurant and Lounge 83 boasting a creative casual dining menu and attached wine cellar. Guests can also relax at Kinetic, the hotel’s gym and wellness studio with massage and reflexology treatment capabilities. A fully-equipped business centre and meeting facilities capable of accomodating 10 to 110 persons is available to the business traveller.

 

In Vietnam, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts now manage 2 properties in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Mövenpick Hotel Saigon). Worldwide, the Swiss-based hotel chain operate 64 properties in 20 countries.

Silversea’s Prince Albert II To Sail In Arctic

Silversea Cruises has announced revised itineraries for the M/V Prince Albert II, its latest addition to the fleet. The ship was originally intended to reposition from the Antarctic to French Polynesia, but will now sail back to the Arctic. For the 2009 Spring and Summer sailing seasons, Prince Albert II will operate 9 expeditions in the Arctic region.

 

The Arctic region, comprising parts of Canada, Norway, Greenland and Iceland, has become a sought-after destination with cruisers. Silversea Cruises will offer expeditions from 7-day Svalbard (one of the last major european wilderness areas) or Greenland voyages to 16-day cruises to Canada, allowing guests to experience the unique Arctic ecosystem. Onboard, guests will be accompanied by a veteran expedition team and a panel of lecturers and naturalists guiding their travels.

 

Named to honour H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco, the 6,072 ton Prince Albert II is a purpose-built expedition ship designed to navigate some of the world’s most remote waters. The vessel boasts 8 Zodiac boats, allowing her 132 guests to explore regions where other ships cannot. Onboard, there are 66 cabins, a spacious library with internet facilities, boutique shopping, a full-service spa and top-deck whirlpools. Guests are treated to live evening entertainment and The Humidor, a cigar and cognac bar.

 

Silversea Cruises is a luxury cruise line headquartered at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition to the Prince Albert II, the line currently has 4 other luxury, all-suite cruise ships in service around the world and is scheduled to add a 5th vessel to its fleet in 2009.

Etihad Begins Flights to Moscow, Almaty

Etihad Airways has begun flights from Abu Dhabi to Moscow, Russia. The inaugural flight, EY 069, took off at 0859 hrs and arrived in Moscow’s Domodedovo airport at 1356 hrs. Moscow is Etihad’s eleventh destination in Europe and its first in Russia.

 

The airline will fly to the Russian capital 5 times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Flight EY 069 departs Abu Dhabi at 0940 hrs and arrives in Moscow at 1405 hrs. The return flight, EY 068, departs Moscow at 1455 hrs and lands in Abi Dhabi at 2105 hrs. Etihad will use a combination of 2-class Airbus A319 aircraft with 20 seats in Pearl Business class and 84 seats in Coral Economy class and 2-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 20 Pearl Business and 120 Coral Economy seats.

 

Etihad will also operate its inaugural flight to Almaty, Kazakhstan tomorrow, 2 December. Flight EY 296 will depart Abu Dhabi at 1020 hrs and arrive in Almaty at 1635 hrs. The return flight, EY 297, will leave Almaty at 1735 hrs, arriving back in Abu Dhabi at 2030 hrs. The route will be operated 4 times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays using an Airbus A319 aircraft.

 

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and is based out of Abu Dhabi International Airport. The airline currently operate flights to 50 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and Asia.