MSC Celebrates the Arrival of the MSC Seashore in Brazil

Posted on 31 December, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Cruises marked the arrival of the MSC Seashore to Brazil earlier this month with a special celebration onboard the vessel.

In the presence of over 2,000 invitees, the company staged a “Brazilian christening ceremony” for the 2021-built ship, which will spend the entire winter season sailing in the country.

The company’s local operations director, Márcia Leite, served as the godmother during the ceremony, which took place at the ship’s theatre.

“We are very proud to celebrate the arrival of another new MSC Cruises ship,” said Adrian Ursilli, MSC Cruises Brazil country manager.

According to Ursilli, MSC has a “trademark tradition” of sending a different vessel to debut in the Brazilian market every year.

“This time it’s the MSC Seashore, a ship that was the newest of our fleet just 15 days ago,” Ursilli said.

Taking the title from the MSC Seaside, which debuted in the region for the 2021-2022 season, the MSC Seashore also became the largest cruise ship to ever sail in Brazil.

“We continue to work to evolve and improve our services with a quality offer for the Brazilian market, as a leader must do,” he added.

One of the five MSC Cruises ships serving the Brazilian market during the 2022-2023 season, the Seashore is now offering cruises from Santos, Salvador and Maceió.

Along with the MSC Seaview, the MSC Preziosa, the MSC Fantasia and the MSC Armonia, the 4,560-guest ship continues to sail in the country through March, offering a record capacity in the local market.

“We’ll have an increase of over 68 per cent in the number of cabins when compared to the 2019-2020 season,” said Ursilli.

According to him, MSC is set to offer 130 cruises sailing from five different Brazilian ports, such as Rio de Janeiro and Itajaí.

MSC’s winter season in South America started in November, with the arrival of the MSC Fantasia to Santos.

Norwegian Cruise Line Trimming Stateroom Cleaning, Cutting Crew Roles

Posted on 30 December, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Optimizing operations are continuing at Norwegian Cruise Line, which is set to reduce its stateroom cleaning service in 2023 fleetwide, according to a report from Crew Center, citing a letter sent to the crew, which was also obtained later by Cruise Industry News.

In short, some stateroom categories will now get a once-a-day cleaning service, instead of twice-a-day cleaning, which has included night-time turndown service. This will allow the cruise line to consolidate crew roles while saving energy and water, according to the letter.

Stateroom categories moving to once-daily service in 2023 include studio, inside, oceanview, balcony and club balcony rooms.

This will involve consolidation of staff roles as the stateroom steward and junior stateroom steward positions will be adjusted to a single job title in stateroom attendant.

The company said in the letter that the elimination of this position will phase out over time, allowing the crew to complete current contracts.

According to the company, the adjustment “positively impacts our commitment to environmental sustainability and keeps our company in alignment with current standard practices in the cruise and hotel industries by promoting conservation of water and energy resources and by reducing the use of chemicals onboard our ships.”

The changes first happen on the Norwegian Epic on Jan. 8, followed by the Sky starting Jan. 13, and then the Jewel on Jan. 14, and Sun and Breakaway on Jan. 15

This follows other recent news including a 9 per cent reduction in the company’s shoreside staff.https://wetravel2u.wordpress.com/2022/12/29/norwegian-cruise-line-trimming-stateroom-cleaning-cutting-crew-roles/https://wetravel2u.wordpress.com/2022/12/29/norwegian-cruise-line-trimming-stateroom-cleaning-cutting-crew-roles/

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Laying Off 9% of Shoreside Workforce

Posted on 29 December, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced on Thursday a major reduction in its current and planned shoreside workforce, with the Miami-based cruise operator set for a nine per cent reduction in current and planned shoreside roles.

According to the company’s 2021 Environmental Report, it has over 3,500 full-time shoreside employees, meaning layoffs could total over 300 roles.

“The Company is undergoing a broad and ongoing effort to improve operating efficiencies, including cost minimization initiatives, to strengthen the foundation for sustained, profitable growth. As part of this initiative, on December 14, 2022, the Company carried out a workforce reduction and rightsizing to better align the Company’s workforce with its strategic priorities and prepare for its future growth, resulting in an approximately 9% reduction in current and planned shoreside roles,” the company said in an SEC filing.