Royal Caribbean begins search for first ‘Instagram intern’

Posted on 8 January, 2017 by Spacejunkie2

The search for an explorer to fulfill Royal Caribbean International’s first Instagram ‘Intern-ship of the Seas’ is launched today.

This comes as new research by the line confirms that social media is a key source of inspiration in consumer holiday booking habits.

The study of 2,000 UK and Ireland consumers was commissioned to determine the role that social media plays in inspiring holidaymakers.

The results show nearly half (48%) of holidaymakers rely on platforms like Instagram for inspiration. More than a third (34%) claim they would not consider visiting a destination without first consulting social media.

A third (37%) say that seeing their friends’ bragging posts from abroad has encouraged them to plan their own holiday.

‘Fear of missing out’ after seeing holiday images has triggered a fifth of travellers to go as far as to book the same holiday as friends.

As a result, the line is seeking applications via Instagram to find an ‘extraordinary explorer’ who will sail the seas and capture the unique stories, destinations and experiences of a cruise holiday.

As part of the role, the candidate will travel three oceans, on three ships, for three weeks, this summer with food, drink, accommodation, flights and expenses covered by Royal Caribbean and will also be rewarded with £3,000.

Applicants who think they have what it takes to capture pictures that stand out and inspire holidaymakers can apply for the role by sharing their most extraordinary travel photo on Instagram, tagging @RoyalCaribbeanUK and #ExtraordinaryExplorer. Agents can apply too.

Travel blogger Johnny Ward, who next month is set to become the youngest person to visit every country in the world, will select the winning candidate alongside a panel of judges including Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley and Royal Caribbean UK and Ireland managing director Ben Bouldin.

The judges will mark applications against strict criteria to select the successful candidate. Submissions will be judged on a number of elements including visual appeal, storytelling ability, originality and inspirational qualities.

Bouldin said: “Royal Caribbean has a fleet of 25 ships visiting over 250 destinations around the world, meaning our holidays are positively teeming with extraordinary moments. In a first for the cruise industry, we’re looking for a talented storyteller to capture those moments and bring them to the world via Instagram.

“When it comes to choosing a holiday, we know social media plays a crucial role in the decision making process for consumers. Knowledge and personalisation are then key to convert that idea into an actual cruise holiday, which is the crucial role our agents play. ”

Ward added: “This research proves that social media is integral to how we live our lives and book our holidays.

“Royal Caribbean has cleverly used this insight in their new Intern-Ship role and is hunting for a storyteller extraordinaire that can use Instagram to inspire others to explore the world.

“I have created a living out of my travel stories but social media is positively teeming with budding storytellers out there looking for a big break.”

Fincantieri’s Bid for STX France Viewed Favorably by French Government

Posted on 5 January, 2017 by Spacejunkie2

FILE PHOTO Shipbuilders ride past a giant poster November 9, 2016 at the STX Les Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo

By Emmanuel Jarry

PARIS, Jan 4 (Reuters) – A leading French minister expressed support on Wednesday for a bid by Italy’s Fincantieri’s for shipbuilder STX France, adding that the government would aim to keep the shipbuilder’s main site running at Saint Nazaire.

“We said we wanted a European, industrial company … Fincantieri is a European, industrial company. So it would be hard for us to say ‘no’ to them,” French Industry Minister Christophe Sirugue told RMC Radio.

The sale of STX France, which specialises in building cruise ships at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard and is profitable, forms part of a broader sell-off of businesses following the demise of the South Korean STX shipbuilding group.

The French state owns 33 percent of STX France, and Sirugue said the government was keen to keep the Saint Nazaire site in the west of the country.

Italy’s 230-year old Fincantieri makes a wide range of vessels from cruise ships to military aircraft carriers, and acquiring STX France would boost its presence in the cruise shipbuilding part of the market.

Sirugue said France wanted state-controlled military shipbuilder DCNS, in which Thales holds around 35 percent, to take a minority stake in STX France that would definitely be below 50 percent of the company.

Saint Nazaire’s high point last year was production of the largest passenger ship ever built, the ‘Harmony of the Seas’. (Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; Writing by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

Royal Caribbean seeking lifeguards

Posted on 27 December, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean International has put a help-wanted ad for lifeguards on its website, according Cruise Law News.

The report features a screen shot of an ad entitled “Posting: Lifeguard Staff” that says the applicant would monitor swimming pools, the H2O Zone, Splashaway Bay and other designated water attractions. It said the job is a 1.5 stripe officer position within the Marine Department and would report to the Lifeguard Supervisor.

Asked about the posting, Royal Caribbean said the company does not have anything to announce at this time.

Currently, Disney is the only cruise line that staffs lifeguards at pools. Other lines have said guests swim at their own risk, the same policy adopted by many resorts and hotels.

Several children have drowned or nearly drowned in pools on cruise ships in recent years, leading critics to question the industry’s pool safety practices. In June, an 8-year-old boy was pulled from the pool on Anthem of the Seas after being submerged for eight to 10 minutes, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. He died two days later.