Bolidt celebrates ten years of Bolideck Future Teak

Posted on 17 September, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Bolidt has won contracts to supply its Bolideck Future Teak lightweight synthetic decking system onboard three of its long-term customers’ new cruise ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line has ordered 15,000 sqm of Bolideck 525, Bolideck Select Soft and Bolideck Future Teak for the exterior decking onboard its latest newbuild Norwegian Escape. Bolidt will also supply 4,500 sqm of flooring for balconies and interior public areas onboard the 4,200-guest newbuild, which will be delivered this October.

“Norwegian uses Bolideck products on all of its cruise ships and we have known each other a long time,” said Van Overbeek. “The company places contracts with us due to our focus on solving problems, our nice designs and our flexibility. Collaboration with its designers is great and if the they have a new idea, we create samples until they get what they are looking for.”

Bolidt will also supply Bolideck Future Teak for the outer decks of Royal Caribbean International’s new 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas, which will debut in April 2016. The 226,000gt ship will also feature Bolideck Select Soft in the inside public areas, Bolideck Select Hard in the swimming pools and Bolideck Helideck on the helicopter landing platform.

Holland America Line’s latest newbuild Koningsdam will also feature 4,700 sqm of Bolideck Future Teak on the outer decks. Currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard in Italy, the 2,650-gues ship will be the largest in Holland america’s fleet when she is delivered in 2016.

Meanwhile, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAdiva, Holland America Line’s Amsterdam and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Victory were all outfitted with Bolidt flooring during recent refits at Blohm + Voss and Grand Bahama Shipyard respectively.

Bolideck Future Teak, which was launched a decade ago, is a durable and has been designed to look and feel like real teak flooring.

“Bolideck Future Teak remains the product of choice for cruise ship operators and shipbuilding yards, as well as specialist designers,” said Jacco van Overbeek, director of Bolidt’s maritime division. “This reflects the fact that it is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to natural teak.”

Carnival makes higher commission levels easier to reach

Posted on 15 September, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Line said it will lower the number of cruises agents have to sell to reach a higher tier in its commission structure.

The move will make it easier for agents to earn more selling Carnival and reverses a move the line made three years ago in the opposite direction.

Adolfo Perez, vice president of trade sales and marketing, said the move was his top priority since being promoted to his new job in June.

“Essentially what we’re doing is reducing each of the thresholds for each of the commission levels, so anywhere from the 11% to the 15% commission level we’ve reduced the number of sailed cabins required to hit that tier,” Perez said.

For example, agents who previously had to sell 400 cabins to earn the 15% level will now have to sell 250. To earn 14%, the threshold goes from 300 to 175.

The 13% level is now reached at 125 cabins, down from 200, while the 12% level is reached at 50 cabins, down from 100.

Small or beginning agents will need to sell 40 cabins, down from 50, to boost their commission rate to 11% from the starting rate of 10%.

Agencies already earning the top rate of 16% are unaffected. Perez said he feels the structure for those commission levels is already adequate.

In a statement, Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer of Cruise Planners of Coral Springs, Fla., said Carnival’s moves to recognize the value agents bring to the bottom line is a step in the right direction for the competitive landscape.

“It is obvious the company has reprioritized travel agent relationships and this trend should continue to keep the brand top of mind for travel agents,” she said.

Carnival negotiating return to Mobile

Posted on 15 September, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that it is in final negotiations for a resumption of cruises from Mobile, Alabama.

In a statement, Carnival said officials met with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson on Sept. 2 in Miami.

“We are in the final stages of contract negotiations with the City of Mobile for future cruises from the port,” the statement said. “We expect this process to be concluded by the end of the month.”

Carnival operated at Mobile from 2004 through 2011, occupying a $28 million terminal that has gone largely unused since it departed four years ago.

At the time, Carnival cited prices that were lower than achieved at other ports for the pullout. Carnival also has Gulf Coast cruises that depart from Galveston, New Orleans and Tampa.

No other cruise line stepped in to take Carnival’s place in Mobile after it left.

In a press conference, Stimpson said Mobile is not negotiating with any other cruise operators.