Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is focusing on engaging with worldwide port communities by establishing a Global Ports Committee as well as new regional committees in the Americas, Australasia and Asia in addition to the regional committee already operating in Europe.
The Global Ports Committee is chaired by Giora Israel of Carnival Corporation, and includes Tom Spina of Norwegian Cruise Line, Gianluca Suprani of MSC Cruises, and John Tercek of Royal Caribbean Cruises. This committee will serve as a forum where cruise lines and ports from around the world can come together to discuss port-related issues of interest and will help to more fully integrate port development and operations within the larger cruise industry.
CLIA redesigned its Executive Partner program, which is comprised of 250 port authorities, destinations and maritime and industry suppliers. As part of this effort, CLIA today also named Bo Larsen to the position of director of port engagement and business development. In this role, Bo will initially have responsibility as the staff liaison to the regional ports committee in Europe and executive partner business development for Northern Europe.
Holland America Line's newest Pinnacle Class ship cut its first piece of steel last week. The ship is scheduled for delivery in February 2016. Stein Kruse, the company’s president and CEO, presided over the ceremony on Feb. 4 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, where the vessel is being built. Antonio Quintano, director of Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, co-hosted the event.
The 99,500-ton ship is the first Pinnacle Class vessel for Holland America Line and the largest ever built for the line. The steel cutting follows a period of design and development for the 2,648-passenger ship. This is the 15th ship built for Holland America Line by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, which most recently constructed ms Nieuw Amsterdam that was delivered in July 2010.
Judy Perl cruises rebranded itself as Judy Perl Worldwide Travel, a Virtuoso travel agency. The new name acknowledges expanded client demand for both land and sea travel, and the company’s operating on both types of vacations.
The New York-based company was founded in 2001 by Perl, a 30-year travel industry veteran who began her career with Seabourn and Cunard cruise lines.