December

Miami
Carnival Corp. & PLC reported a large profit drop in the fourth quarter, but beat analysts' estimates after a dismal year haunted by the Costa Concordia capsizing in January

For the fourth quarter, the company reported profits of $93 million, or 12 cents earnings per share, on revenue of $3.6 billion. Carnival profits were down about 57 percent compared to the same period last year when it reported net income of $217 million, or 28 cents earnings per share, on revenue of $3.7 billion. 
"As a result of the Costa Concordia tragedy in January, the past year has been the most challenging in our company's history," Arison said. "However, through the significant efforts of our brand management teams, we were able to maintain full year 2012 net revenue yields (excluding Costa) in line with the prior year. In addition, we drove down net cruise costs, excluding fuel, slightly and fuel consumption by four percent." 
Arison said the company remains well positioned for a recovery next year. more...

Representing Viking Ocean Cruises was the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Torstein Hagen while Fincantieri was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe Bono.

At 47,000 gross tones with 472 cabins for a total passenger capacity of 944, the two vessels are destined to serve the market of smaller super-luxury ships. Delivery is scheduled for early 2015 and early 2016. 
A crucial factor in Fincantieri’s successful bid was Export Banca, the system set up by SACE, Cassa depositi e prestiti and Simest to support Italian exports which enabled Fincantieri to offer the shipowner an attractive technical, commercial and financial package. The signing of this important agreement is proof that the Italian system is competitive and able to offer effective solutions for the export of capital goods, even in today’s turbulent financial markets. 
Furthermore, Fincantieri and Viking are discussing further high profile joint projects, not only in the ocean cruise segment but also in the river cruise segment, in which Viking River Cruises is world leader.

Portsmouth, UK
All Leisure Group plc, the UK based boutique and destinational cruise group, has welcomed a new chapter in its history with the arrival of the extensively refurbished ship mv Voyager ahead of its naming celebrations in the maritime city of Portsmouth.

The refurbished Mv Voyager officially joins the travel company’s cruise ship fleet on Tuesday 4 December under the Voyages of Discovery brand. The ship will enjoy a four-day showcase in the city, before sailing to the West Indies, and will return in summer 2013 offering four different discovery cruises from Portsmouth.

All Leisure Group plc first purchased the ship in 2009 and invested in a multi-million pound refit of the vessel using predominantly British design and manufacturing companies. The technical upgrades and the redesign took place in the Dorset port of Portland delivering a boost to the shipping-based economy in the area.

Passengers will board the ship in Portsmouth (UK) following its official naming ceremony to enjoy a circumnavigation of South America and the Caribbean on a remarkable five-month voyage taking in destinations such as Margarita Island in Venezuela, Puerto Cortes in Honduras, Manta in Ecuador, Callao in Peru, around Cape Horn, cruising the Amazon River in Brazil, the Cuban capital of Havana and back to Portsmouth via the Azores.

Fitting the adventure theme of the ship, mv Voyager will be named and christened in Portsmouth on 4 December 2012 by natural history, marine conservation, archaeology and wildlife TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff.

HNA Tourism Cruise & Yacht Management was launched at the HNA Marriot Hotel in Beijing this week, while the company also unveiled its first luxury cruise ship, named ‘Henna’.

With a capacity of 1,965 passengers and a range of onboard entertainment, Henna will welcome passengers for the first time on 26 January 2013, cruising from Sanya to Halong Bay and Danang in Vietnam. The company will also operate the ‘Island Construction I’ – a luxury mega-yacht.

“The cruise industry has great potential while the market is anticipated to be quite large. It is just starting out but is developing at a rapid speed in mainland China, including ancillary facilities and port construction,” said Zhang Hao, president of HNA Tourism Cruise & Yacht Management.

In 2011, mainland China received 262 international cruise ships, an increase of 17.5% year-on-year. These ships brought more than 504,500 visitors to China.

The cruise operation is the latest addition to HNA Group’s travel and tourism portfolio, which also includes Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Deer Jet, HNA Hotels & Resorts, Grand China Express International Travel and Grand China MICE.