United Kingdom
USACruise news this week comes from a diverse range of cruise lines from Asian river specialist Pandaw to major brand Royal Caribbean.
Cruise news this week comes from a diverse range of cruise lines from Asian river specialist Pandaw to major brand Royal Caribbean.
Explora Journeys has officially ordered two hydrogen-powered ships from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
The luxury brand from the MSC Group is committed to achieving a net zero-carbon emissions target by 2050 and plans to explore advanced environmental technologies for its luxury ships. This investment brings total spending on six luxury ships to €3.5 billion, with financing still to be arranged.
The two new ships, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, will feature cutting-edge energy efficiency measures and the ability to use alternative fuels like bio and synthetic gas, as well as methanol. The pair are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028.
The two new ships will use liquid hydrogen and fuel cells when they’re docked in ports to cut carbon emissions while their engines are off. Additionally, these ships will have advanced LNG engines equipped with containment systems to address methane emissions.
LNG is one of the cleanest marine fuels currently available on a large scale and is crucial for reducing emissions in the global shipping industry.
Royal Caribbean International has revealed a first look at Hideaway Beach, an adults-only paradise set to open in January 2024 on Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
Hideaway Beach promises a full-day experience tailored to guests aged 18 and up, offering all the best elements of a tropical holiday. Highlights include a private beach, two heated infinity-edge pools, 20 exclusive cabanas, seven open-air bars, numerous eateries, live music and more.
Holidaymakers can access all Perfect Day at CocoCay has to offer from 22 Royal Caribbean ships that depart from ports across nine cities.
In additional Royal Caribbean news newest ship Utopia of the Seas was floated out for the first time this week. This significant moment took 17 months of careful planning and nearly 15 hours to complete, involving the filling of the ship’s drydock with over 46 million gallons of water.
Utopia of the Seas is entering its last construction stages, getting ready for some groundbreaking features such as the longest waterslide at sea, a one-of-a-kind train car dining experience and over 40 dining and entertainment choices.
New signature adventures and revamped experiences include redesigned resort-style pools, a fresh Caribbean tiki bar called the Pesky Parrot, an updated Izumi restaurant now located in Central Park with a handy sushi and Japanese street food pickup window, and outdoor dining, plus fantastic nightlife and entertainment.
Jeremy Paxman, Dame Jenni Murray, and Hunter Davies are set to join Saga’s Spirit of Adventure ship on an early 2024 Canary Islands cruise to entertain guests with their stories.
Led by Saga magazine’s editorial director, the famous journalists will be giving a selection of talks and Q&A sessions on Saga’s Night Skies of the Canaries cruise departing from Portsmouth on January 5, 2024.
The 15-night all-inclusive cruise departs Portsmouth and will sail to Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, La Coruña, Cadiz, and Madeira. Prices start from £3,283 per person.
Windstar Cruises has unveiled its sailing plans until winter 2025/26, including some changes for its six-ship fleet. Notable updates include long voyages in the Canary Islands, the introduction of Cruise Tours in the Middle East, two new Cruise Tours in Tahiti and the comeback of an epic Caribbean voyage.
If you book before November 6, 2023, you can get a free upgrade to All-Inclusive Fares, which covers unlimited alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, and all tips (a $99 per guest per day value), plus a $100 onboard credit per guest.
Additionally, Windstar is introducing a new cruise promotion for all its ships. If you’re sailing with Windstar, you can book your next cruise while on board and enjoy a 10 percent discount, along with a $100 per person shipboard credit and reduced deposits based on your cruise’s value.
This 10 percent discount is exclusive to onboard bookings for the 2025/26 season and can be combined with other Windstar promotions and Formula One/Grand Prix-themed sailings.
Pandaw, which specialises in Asian river cruising, has removed the single supplement for single travellers on a wide range of dates, including peak season, from 2023 to 2025. These trips can be anywhere from 3 to 14 nights long and comprise cruises on the Mekong, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, sailings around Halong Bay and more.
Solo cruisers can connect with like-minded fellow travellers, enjoy spacious and comfortable common areas, and join in daily cocktail hours. Plus, if you prefer, you can request special tables for solo holidaymakers in the dining room.
On top of that, there’s a special deal for families: kids under 18 can cruise for free on certain 2023 and 2024 departures.
Seabourn is embarking on its first-ever expedition trips to the South Pacific and the Kimberley region in 2024 onboard newest ultra-luxury expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.
From March to October 2024 the ship will explore the Pacific, with highlights including visits to Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Guam, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Kimberley region in northern Australia.
Seabourn Pursuit will offer a range of expedition experiences such as Zodiac cruising, nature walks, hikes, scuba diving and snorkelling on most of the itineraries.
Additionally, for select destinations, there will be optional expeditions featuring dives using two specially designed luxury submersibles and kayaking. Throughout the Seabourn expedition voyage, a team of 24 experts, including scientists, scholars, naturalists and more, will ensure guests receive top-notch knowledge and guidance.
Oceania Cruises has announced seven exciting new summer voyages to French Polynesia and Hawaii for 2025. These cruises will take place aboard Regatta, a boutique hotel-style ship accommodating 670 guests. Reservations for these cruises will open on October 4, 2023.
These new Oceania Cruises holidays are scheduled for the ideal months of August, September, and October when both regions enjoy plenty of sunshine, pleasant temperatures and lower humidity. The itineraries cover breathtaking spots such as Bora Bora’s azure lagoon, Tahiti’s black sand beaches, Raiatea’s colourful coral reefs, Nuku Hiva’s towering mountains in lush jungles and more.
Four of the seven new sailings connect French Polynesia with Hawaii, allowing travellers to explore the captivating craters, dramatic canyons, and lush waterfalls of the Hawaiian archipelago. What’s more, the seven new voyages range from 10 to 18 days, allowing plenty of time for exploration, adventure and relaxation.
Hurtigruten Group AS – which launched the world’s first expedition cruise in 1896 – has revealed it taking a step forward with its adventure travel brand, Hurtigruten Expeditions.
A fresh global brand identity will be unveiled in December, complete with a new name, “HX” – paying homage to Hurtigruten Expeditions and its origins – and logo.
Hurtigruten Norway, which marked 130 years of operating the original Norwegian Coastal Express this summer, will retain its iconic name, simplified to just “Hurtigruten.” This keeps the same name as when it first launched in 1893, representing “the fast route” in Norwegian.
Updates to brochures, websites and social channels plus livery repainting of the fleet’s six ships will commence over the next 18 months.
This summer Hurtigruten announced it is moving the battery-hybrid-powered MS Otto Sverdrup from Hurtigruten Expeditions to Hurtigruten Norway starting in January 2024. It’s also sending MS Maud to Antarctica due to growing demand.
In the 2024-2025 Antarctica season, HX will have 36 different trips to choose from, with each lasting between 12 to 24 days and covering eight unique routes.
In further brand news, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has achieved a milestone in its pursuit of reducing emissions by becoming the first cruise company to connect to shoreside electricity in Iceland. This means the custom-built, small ship eliminates engine use, cutting emissions to zero.
