United Kingdom
USACruise news this week includes exciting ship updates from major cruise lines, fab deals up for grabs and tempting itinerary announcements.
Cruise news this week includes exciting ship updates from major cruise lines, fab deals up for grabs and tempting itinerary announcements.
Silversea Cruises has unveiled details of the upcoming refurbishment planned for Silver Endeavour; the vessel is the world’s most luxurious expedition ship!
It will enter the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genova, Italy, on April 3, 2023, and undergo a raft of enhancements to evolve the onboard and expedition experiences for guests.
Six new upper suites will be crafted on deck eight (introducing two new suite categories to increase guests’ accommodation options) plus four new suites on deck five, while two new suite categories will be introduced with the aim of immersing travellers even deeper into the destination.
The two Master Suites on deck eight (replacing the former helicopter hangar amidships) will be located towards the ship’s aft, providing uninterrupted, 270-degree views from their 29m2 (312ft2) verandas and large living areas, thanks to panoramic, vaulted glazing.
The rooms will feature expansive living and dining areas; bedrooms with king-sized or twin beds, and a walk-in closet; and a roomy bathroom with a walk-in shower, and separate whirlpool bath. The living room will include a convertible sofa to accommodate a third guest.
Other enhancements also include the installation of handcrafted Lalique crystal panels in La Dame — Silversea’s signature French restaurant.
Following Silver Endeavour’s refurbishment in Genova, she will carry out two cruises in the British Isles and Iceland, before embarking upon her inaugural Arctic season from June 3.
Here nine voyages will include many of the Polar Region’s most remote destinations, including Pond Inlet, Cape York and Qaanaaq, among others.
Crystal Cruises has some exciting cruise news about its culinary offering onboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which will set sail on their inaugural voyages later this year.
UMI UMA by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar – one of Crystal’s award-winning, speciality dining offerings – is returning to the two ships.
Here dishes are inspired by the exotic array and traditions of the Orient and created by legendary Master Chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa.
Guests will once again be able to feast on signature entrees such as Nobu-Style Black Cod, Grilled Chilean Sea Bass, Wagyu Beef Filet Steak, and some of the freshest sushi available at the Sushi Bar.
Passengers can enjoy one complimentary reservation per person, per cruise, for sailings of 11 days or less. For sailings of more than 11 days, two complimentary reservations will be included.
Additional reservations may be confirmed when onboard for a nominal charge, subject to availability. Reservations will be required to dine at UMI UMA.
Want to get onboard? Crystal Serenity’s inaugural sailing will depart July 31, from Marseille for a Mediterranean cruise, and Crystal Symphony will depart on September 1, from Athens.
Planned cruises will travel throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Are you the kind of traveller who likes to plan trips well in advance? Viking has opened dates for all 2025 European river voyages in response to an unprecedented level of demand from UK travellers.
What’s more, Viking has announced an early booking offer: if guests book their 2025 European river journey by December 31, 2023, they will save £1,000 per person and receive a complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package.
Popular European river itineraries include Rhine Getaway (8 days, between Basel and Amsterdam), Romantic Danube (8 days, between Budapest and Regensburg), Lyon & Provence (8 days, between Avignon and Lyon) and Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days, between Lisbon and Porto).
The Viking cruise news doesn’t stop there. Viking also announced its new Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary cruisetour for the 2024 European river season.
Departure dates will run from March through to November 2024, with the special 12-day cruisetour from London to Paris commemorating Operation Overlord and the historic battles of Normandy, which took place nearly 80 years ago and served as the catalyst to the liberation of Western Europe from German occupation.
A-ROSA River Cruises is becoming the first river cruise line to offer swimming lessons onboard A-ROSA SENA, the line’s flagship, family-friendly vessel which launched last year.
Available on August 5 and 12 departures, beginner and intermediate courses will be available for children aged between four and a half and seven years old in the swimming pool located on the ship’s expansive sundeck.
The course – costing €100 per child – will include six lessons all taught by a qualified swimming instructor, with a maximum of six participants per lesson of 45 minutes.
Beginner lessons are aimed at all children who are completely new to swimming and aim to build water confidence and early skills and techniques.
Meanwhile, the intermediate course is for children who are already confident in the water and is designed to improve technique and endurance. After completing the course all children will receive a certificate.
Other European river cruise ship firsts onboard A-ROSA SENA are the dedicated kids club room called ‘Treasure Island’ and the separate children’s splash pool.
Oceania Cruises has launched its OLife Ultimate “All Three for Free” sale, offering guests significant benefits and savings on diverse sailings across the Oceania fleet, onboard Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Marina, Riviera, and Sirena.
Holidaymakers who book by April 30 can bag free shore excursions, a free beverage package and shipboard credit on 83 select voyages in 2023 and 2024 that explore an array of destinations from Tokyo and Barcelona to Alaska and Dubai.
While Oceania Cruises’ guests usually receive a generous package of included amenities such as dining at speciality restaurants, Internet, 24-hour room service, fitness classes and more, the OLife Ultimate “All Three for Free” offer provides up to an additional $800 in savings in shipboard credit for sought-after onboard amenities and dream-worthy shore excursions.
This means on a 10-day voyage you could be saving $2,299 (£1,873) per stateroom!
Riviera Travel has announced the launch of eight escorted tours for 2024, including newly-introduced extended beach stays on select itineraries.
The tours, which go on sale from March 20, 2023, comprise five holidays to Asia or the Middle East that combine Riviera’s traditional tours with several days at a notable coastal location. They are offered alongside three Kenya safari or classic Japan options.
Tours include return flights; transfers; all scheduled visits and tours; breakfast and select meals; and the services of a Rivera Travel tour manager throughout.
In further Riviera news, the travel company has announced four Croatian yacht cruise itineraries will depart in 2024. A total of 68 sailings will take place from early May to October, with six dedicated to solo travellers.
The seven-night itineraries, available now, sail on exclusively-chartered, luxury yachts, each with a maximum of 38 to 40 guests. Daily tours and visits combine the historic towns and cities of Croatia with the unspoilt beauty of the national parks of the Dalmatian coast.
Cruise Croatia has announced it is holding a murder mystery-themed sailing hosted by Wilfred Webster, star of BBC show, ‘The Traitors’.
The seven-night voyage, departing August 10, 2024, from the Croatian city of Split, will take place on the luxury small ship, MV Memories. Thirty-eight guests will battle it out to survive the cut, with Wilf hosting the group across the week.
The longest-standing player will be rewarded with an all-expenses paid, seven-night, luxury small-ship cruise to Greece, departing in 2025 worth £10,000.
The murder mystery at sea will involve guests being bumped off on a cabin-by-cabin basis – but you still get to stay and enjoy the cruise!
The cruise visits the islands of Hvar, Korcula, Vis and Brac and includes a visit to two stunning national parks, wine tasting, oyster harvesting and more.
MV Memories boasts private balcony cabins and an onboard jacuzzi, while the cruise has daily swim stops and complimentary use of paddle boards, sea kayaks and snorkelling equipment.
