OCEANIA
CRUISES is planning to take on a fourth ship, and it's
already picked the name: the Marina; and the launch date: July 7,
2007. Oceania CEO Frank Del Rio made the announcement during the
christening of the line's third ship, the Nautica, in Istanbul,
Turkey; the Nautica's godmother Fana Holtz, a Miami-based
philanthropist and civic leader, did the christening honors.
SEADREAM I WILL
RELOCATE TO SOUTH AMERICA NEXT WINTER with a program of
nine-night patterned itineraries between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos
Aires in an effort to boost yields and with an unexpected, hip
itinerary, according to President and CEO Larry Pimentel of
SeaDream Yacht Club. Larry Pimentel, SeaDream Yacht Club's CEO,
called South America "hot, sexy and exotic" and said past guests
had suggested the region as an alternative. The SeaDream I will
begin sailings from Buenos Aires on Nov. 23. Five of the nine-night
sailings will commence in Rio and end in Buenos Aires. These trips
include an overnight in Rio aboard the ship and a day trip to
Iguazu Falls via private jet charter. The northbound cruises
substitute a call at Ilha da Gipoi for Iguazu Falls. The SeaDream
II will remain in the Caribbean.
ITALIAN
SHIPBUILDING POWERHOUSE FINCANTIERI expanded its reach
into the U.S. with a newly formed company, Fincantieri Marine
Systems North America (FMSNA). The company said it plans to expand
its range of services to the cruise industry by offering
refurbishment and repairs in the Caribbean and northern
Europe.
FDGM, the
U.S.-based subsidiary of Fincantieri, will be absorbed by
the newly formed company. Fincantieri aims to create a "net of
yards" strategically positioned in the Caribbean -- the company is
finalizing a deal with Grand Bahamas Shipyard -- and northern
Europe, in addition to the Mediterranean through the company's
Palermo shipyard to offer a "range of services to the cruise
industry," among them refurbishments and repairs, according to
company spokesman Gianfranco Gulli. A dedicated business unit has
been created to this end, and negotiations are underway with a
shipyard in the Caribbean and one in northern Europe, he
said.
CRUISE
SPECIALISTS, which is a part of Carlson Travel Group's
Carlson Vacation and Business Travel Division, opened its second
cruise/tour agency, in San Francisco, and appointed industry
veteran Greg Nacco to run the new location. Nacco is the former
vice president of Golden Bear Travel in San Francisco and in his
new role will expand the range of hosted luxury cruises and tours
offered by the company. Cruise Specialists, which is based in
Seattle, was founded by Janet Lanterman, the wife of former Holland
America Line CEO Kirk Lanterman.