Cruise & Travel web Magazine

MAY 2008   Ed. Publisher John Pond, Assistant Editor Sandra T.                       

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JOHN POND

Editor & Publisher

Sandra Tiltman

Assistant Editor

INDEX

THIS ISSUE

MSC Poesia

Discover America

Emirates

MSC Cruises

SOON

JAL Review

Narita Lounge

Paris-London Hotels

Advertising spending in Australia is moving away from television and newspapers and onto the Internet. In November 2005, Merrill Lynch forecast that the Internet will be Australia's fastest-growing growing channel, with a 35% increase in advertising revenues that year. As of the end of 2005, the Audit Bureau of Verification Services (ABVS) reported that spending on online advertising in Aust. reached $620 million. & for the first quarter of 2006, the Australian online advertising market grew to over $200 million.

  CLICK ON PAGES BELOW TO VIEW THE PAST 6 PUBLICATIONS

        July 07               Aug 07             Sept-Oct 07        Nov-Dec 07       Jan-Feb 08         March 08

DISCOVER AMERICA

last month saw a large contingent arrive in Australia from America promoting Discover America. Here are some photos I took at the various functions, mainly at Luna Park and the American club. 

Words & Pictures John Pond.

In 2008, the International Year of the Sister City, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the San Francisco – Sydney Sister City Association.

At the American Club seminar were:

- Bevan Dufty, San Francisco Board of Supervisors

- Peter McLaughlin, Vice President, Northern California, Qantas Airways

- Philip Black, Sydney Councillor

- Belinda Ryan, San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee

- Jason Pacheco, California Travel and Tourism Commission

- Joe D’Alessandro, President & CEO, San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau

Topics included:

- The increase in air capacity on the Trans Pacific route which will add 6,000 additional seats by end-2008

- The 40-year strong Sister City Relationship between Sydney and San Francisco – 2008 is the International Year of the Sister City

The US Ambassador to Australia reconfirmed the good news to members of the Australian travel media regarding the recent agreement of an "Open Skies Treaty", as well as commenting on the significant number of Australians who enjoy visiting the USA.

The Ambassadors’ comments highlighted the popularity of America on the part of Australians, which ranked Australia as six out of the top ten nations for visitation. Further compliments were added when the Ambassador touted the fact that Australians rank shopping in the USA as tops, stay longer than any other nation on earth, and are among the highest ‘repeated return rates’ when visiting America on holiday.

EMIRATES LAUNCHES NEW AMENITY KITS    New, luxury amenity kits, containing exclusive products by Bvlgari, are now offered to passengers in the First and Business Class cabins on Emirates' long-haul flights.

Emirates wanted to link with a popular major brand, give the new product a more luxurious feel and source a supplier through which they could be refreshed on a regular basis.

Sandra T. (assistant editor) and I were fortunate to be some of the invited international travel media present.

This is the first time a MSC ship has been officially launched outside of Italy and no money or effort was spared to make the launch a most exciting star studded event.

I will do a full review in a later issue for I feel a picture tells a thousand words, so together with my trusty camera you will get an idea of what this wonderful ship has to offer.(see pictures below) Oversized standard cabins were most welcome and the feeling of luxury and great service as well as outstanding cuisine in the many alternate dining rooms made every moment a pleasure.

I look forward to my next cruise on this ship.

CLICK PHOTO GALLERY for GREAT

pictures

MSC Poesia’s Captain escorts Sophia to her seat at the opening night concert

Although I have been on a great number of cruises, this was my first official launch and when I was fortunate enough to be invited with a handful of international media, I must admit I was thrilled. So after a long but pleasant flight on Japan Airlines with a stopover overnight at a Narita airport hotel we finally arrived in Paris for a few nights stay at the 5 star Victoria Palace Hotel in the Latin Quarter (see separate review soon).  Then a few days later on a fast train to Saint Nazaire’s ship building yards where the MSC Poesia was built.  continued next page.

PRINCE AND PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT JOINED SOPHIA LOREN, ANDREA BOCELLI AND KT TUNSTALL AT CHRISTENING

words & pictures by John Pond.

After boarding Poesia at the French shipyards at Saint Nazaire, we were subjected to 2 days and nights of wonderful food and entertainment and a great ships inspection, our cabin was roomy and what one would expect from a great ship, then we set sail for Dover where two more days of fun and all the official proceedings were to take place. Cruising from Saint Nazaire to Dover took a day and went far too quickly, but gave us the opportunity to enjoy some of the ships great features.

At Dover on day five, Sandra (assistant editor) and I had the pleasure to be In the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, guests of honor at the launch of MSC Cruises’ most exciting and anticipated ship to date.  Prince and Princess Michael of Kent joined international film icon, Sophia Loren, Godmother to the new ship, at the magnificent star studded launch event. To make things even more pleasurable, it was great to catch up with Princess Michael as we were old friends and had not seen each other for many years.

The MSC Poesia, which translates as poetry, saw her first night in Dover celebrated with live performances from headline acts including Andrea Bocelli. Italian opera legend, in addition, multi award winning singer/songwriter KT Tunstall was on stage with jazz supremo, Peter Grant, accompanied by The Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra.

At 89,600 tonnes and 1275 cabins with double occupancy for 2,550 passengers, MSC Poesia has a wonderful blend of cutting edge technology, elegant surroundings, exciting entertainment venues and tantalising dining opportunities. She has become the ninth ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, which has experienced the industry’s largest fleet expansion in the last three years. 

BELOW: Oz contingent at MSC Poesia launch in Dover.

Host - Lynne Clark MSC  in centre middle.

NEXT ISSUE  REVIEWS

Paris and London Hotels

Poesia in detail - JAL Lounge Narita

MSC POESIA

LAUNCH AT DOVER ENGLAND

MSC Poesia is a sister-ship to the Musica and Orchestra, the Poesia offers over 236,800 square feet of public space and balconies in 80% of the outside staterooms.

As one steps aboard they will immediately notice elegant and unique interior designs in the central foyer including a piano suspended above a transparent crystal floor above, and a magnificent, cascading waterfall falling over three-decks. The 13,000 square foot spa offers several ways to relax with a chromo-therapeutic hydro massage, Turkish bath, or a dip in the Jacuzzi. Enjoy a show in the theatre, a movie in the cinema, or try your luck in the ship’s casino.

Choose from a variety of dining options, including a self-service pizza grill, a sushi bar, or a Mediterranean-themed specialty restaurant with a menu that varies daily according to the current Mediterranean port of call.

PHOTOS by John Pond ©

Built in the same shipyards as the Queen Mary, it is truly one of the world’s most elegant ships.

ABOVE & DOWN:     Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, KT Tunstall, Ronnie Scott Orchestra, Andrea Bocelli & Sophia Loren, the ships Godmother at launch.

http://www.etravelblackboard.com/index.asp?CID=17083&Email=jpond@bigpond.net.au&id=76589&nav=5

CLICK LINK BELOW

For an outstanding MSC Offer

on the NEW MSC Poesia

Section of the amazing MSC Poesia Show Room

The Australian Cruise Council gave its annual industry report to journalists and industry representatives on a cold clear night onboard one of Captain Cook’s fleet.

Some of those present were:(LtoR and down).

Jackie Charlton – Captain Cook Cruises

Michael Osborne – The Mature Traveller

Donna Anderson – MSC Cruises

John Tracey – Cruising News

Martine Farrugia – MSC Cruises

Bruce Heilbuth

Kayte Nunn – Cruise Passenger Magazine

Cait Slattery – Silversea Cruise

Steve McLaughlin – Orion

Louise Millmore – Travel The World

James Patrick – Wiltrans Australia Pty Ltd

Kylie Farrell – Wiltrans . Roger Condon – Wiltrans. Rebecca Hill – Wiltrans

Miles Clarke – Journalist

Braydon Holland – Star Cruises

Kevin Leong – Singapore Tourism Board

Head of International Cruise Council Australasia

Richard Cranmer

Brett Jardine GM ICCouncil

Larissa Kaye and Libby Moffet

MG Media

Donna Anderson MSC Cruises Sandra Tiltman, Cruise & Travel.

Report by John Pond

& Sandra Tiltman

APT Amadeus Waterways

Avalon Waterways

Azamara

Captain Cook Cruises

Carnival

Celebrity Cruises

Costa Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Cunard

Holland America

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Orion Expedition Cruises

P & O Cruises

P&O Cruises World Voyages

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Seabourn

Silversea Cruises

Star Cruises

Trafalgar Uniworld Grand River Cruises

Viking River Cruises

CLICK CRUISE LINKS FOR MORE

Cruise holidays are continuing to surge in popularity with a record 263,435 Australians taking to the water last year, according to the latest industry statistics.

The statistics reveal an impressive 14 per cent growth in Australians taking ocean cruises, with numbers rising from 221,033 in 2006 to 251,674 in 2007. This is more than the 11 per cent growth recorded in the UK cruise market and more than triple the 4.6 per cent growth anticipated by the US market for 2007. 

 For the first time, the annual statistics also include passenger numbers for European river cruising, revealing that 11,761 Australians opted for a slower-paced river journey in 2007. The burgeoning river cruise market,  now represents 4 per cent of total Australian cruise passengers.

Releasing the statistics, International Cruise Council Australasia Chairman Richard Cranmer said the 2007 figures demonstrated that cruising was one of the powerhouses of the Australian tourism industry.

LATEST US REPORT PRAISES WEB ADVERTISING: Spending on display ads, including banners and pop-ups, has been flat for the past two years, and will peak this year at $12.6 billion before beginning a "precipitous decline to less than half that amount over the next four years," according to the "Online Promotions: The Big Shift" report. The same can be said for search advertising, which Borrell predicts will peak next year at $16.9 billion, then decline more gradually.

 Meanwhile, online promotions accounted for $8 billion last year, a number that will nearly triple over the next five years, eventually reaching $22.8 billion and eclipsing all other categories of online marketing, the report said.

"What's driving it is an overall dissatisfaction or nagging feeling on the part of advertisers that their advertising isn't working, or that they're overspending on it," said Borrell. "With the Internet, they can go straight to consumers. If they're having a sale, they can put it up on their Web site and consumers will come to them, and if their Web site is good enough, consumers will keep coming back."

(Courtesy Bruce Bieber Seattle Washington www.perpetualpromo.biz)