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Maiden voyages, world cruises & sparkling new suites – latest cruise news

Cruising had another busy week as July draws to a close with myriad new shiny things announced by a number of major cruise lines. This is what you need to know.

Cruise lines have unveiled various exciting news stories in recent days, from new ships to new cruises.

Carnival has a restaurant update, Virgin Voyage’s is hitting TV screens (again), Princess is extending its Americas offering, Silversea has unveiled its world cruise to name just a few of the revelations in the last few days.

This is our weekly round-up of all that’s gone on in the cruise-iverse.

Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival has revealed it will be reopening one of its popular speciality restaurants as staff shortages lessen.

Italian eatery Cucina del Capitano – available on nine Carnival cruise ships – has been shut since mid-May but will now re-open on August 6, 2022.

Tasty options at the restaurant include a Nonna’s Meatball” starter, veal in a pork ragu main and a tangy lemon tart dessert.

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL has unveiled a new musical onboard its new cruise ship Norwegian Prima. It will be called ‘Summer: The Donna Summer Musical’ and will entertain passengers joining Prima’s first sailings from August.

The show tells the story of Donna Summer, the American singer, songwriter, and actress who became known as the “Queen of Disco” in the 1970s. The musical will narrate her rise to fame and the important moments of her career, including Diva Donna, Disco Donna and Duckling Donna.

‘American Idol’ season two finalist Kimberley Locke will star in the titular role when the show opens next month.

Donna Summer musical
Virgin Voyages Pink Agave

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages has had a real moment on the telly in recent months – ships Valiant Lady and Scarlet lady starred in Channel 5’s The Cruise documentary in June and now Valiant Lady is set to feature on beloved US show The Bachelorette from August 1.

In the episodes, the two bachelorettes, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey, and their men will join the ship as it sails the Mediterranean. Filming locations onboard include Virgin restaurant Pink Agave,  bars On the Rocks, nightclub The Manor, Redemption Spa and more.

To celebrate Virgin’s hot new role on the small screen, the cruise line has launched a promotion. From August 1 until August 31, guests can book a second passenger for 50 percent off, while solo travelers can save 50 percent on their price.

The promotion includes an extra $100 Bar Tab Bonus when vacationmakers purchase a $300 Bar Tab, valid for any cabin category except suites. Participating sailings are available from August 2022 until March 2023.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has announced its most expansive Americas season ever, with 47 itineraries across 214 departures from seven North American homeports, including new voyages to the South Pacific and Hawaii.

New for the 2023-24 season are Sapphire Princess’ two South Pacific Islands and Hawaii cruises roundtrip from Los Angeles featuring “More Ashore” late-night stays in Honolulu and Tahiti, and for the first time ever visiting Fiji, along with a pair of Hawaii cruises with overnight stays in Honolulu on Discovery Princess.

Princess will also sail again from Galveston, Texas with a series of voyages on Regal Princess to the Western Caribbean.

The 2023-24 Americas programme will also offer consumers a broad spectrum of departure points for roundtrip cruises from Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver, as well as one departure from New York.

Tahiti
Seabourn Venture

Seabourn

On Wednesday, Seabourn’s newest ship Seabourn Venture undertook her inaugural sailing, cruising on a 12-day Northern Isles expedition.

The luxury expedition ship departed Tromsø, Norway en route to the Arctic and Svalbard Archipelago.

Seabourn Venture‘s inaugural season includes a range of 12 to 15-day voyages cruising the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and the Canadian Archipelago in Nunavut. From October it will call at the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile on 10 to 14-day voyages.

Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys, the new luxury cruise line from MSC Cruises set to debut in 2023, revealed its Ocean Terrace Suites this week.

These cabins are the line’s lead-in suite category and are 377sq ft. Based on a “Homes at Sea” concept designed by Rxplora Journeys, the Ocean Terrace Suites feature a walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area, a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, heated floors in the bathroom, personal binoculars and wireless bed-side charging.

There’s also a personal minibar replenished according to guest preferences, espresso machine with bio-degradable pods, and complimentary personal refillable water bottles for each guest.

Each suite also boasts a private terrace (between 75 and 118sq ft) with daybeds and al fresco dining area.

Explora Journeys suites
Silversea Silver Dawn

Silversea

Luxury line Silversea has unveiled its 136-day world cruise for 2025. With prices starting from $76,000pp (£62,538), the cruise onboard 596-passenger ship Silver Dawn will sail from Tokyo to New York over four months.

Silversea’s world cruise will be segmented into 10 legs organized by dates and destinations starting with Tokyo to Hong Kong and ending with Reykjavik, Iceland to New York.

Cruisers will call at 59 locations across 30 countries and four continents, with four overnight stays in locations such as Osaka in Japan, Luxor in Egypt and Oslo in Norway.

Pre-sale for World Cruise 2025 is open exclusively to 2022, 2023 & 2024 past cruisers, as well as Venetian Society members.

Set Sail

12-Day Bridging Two Great Continents with Seabourn

Duration: 11 nights

Where: Manaus, Brazil | Boca Dos Botos, Brazil | Parintins, Brazil | Santarem, Brazil | Guajara, Brazil | Macapa, Brazil | Devil’s Island, French Guiana | Praia, Ilha De Santiago, Cape Verde

Ship: Seabourn Venture

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Published 07.29.22