P&O celebrities, Silversea’s new luxury ship & MSC World Cup update – cruise news

Celebrities play a surprisingly big role in this week’s cruise news round-up, from P&O Cruises teaming up with a famous singer to a celebrated polar explorer working with Silversea.

MSC Cruises has a big update ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and Hurtigruten passengers will have reason to get excited, too. Here’s what you need to know.

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises has teamed up with singer Sam Fender – so listen out for the famous musician’s dulcet tones in the cruise line’s new TV advert!

The P&O Cruises “memories” ad campaign will air from October 13, 2022, entitled “Family and the Fjords” and will feature Getting Started by Fender. Fun fact, it is the first time one of his tracks has been used in a major UK advertising campaign!

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “We’re delighted that through Sam’s music we can tell the story of how a P&O Cruises holiday offers guests exceptional experiences to share with their loved ones.

“In this particular ad, the family can be seen enjoying once-in-a-lifetime shore experiences set against the stunning fjords landscape – a far cry from the traditional beach and sunbed adverts we have been used to at this time of year.”

MSC Cruises has announced that three of its ships will be used as hotels during the 2022 Fifa world cup in Qatar between November 19 and December 19.

MSC Opera will join MSC Poesia and new ship MSC World Europa at the football tournament.

The accommodation opportunity for football fans and visitors to Doha can be booked for a minimum of two nights through MSC Cruises or through a preferred travel agent.

Hurtigruten passengers will soon be able to access high-speed internet when out on the high seas.

The expedition cruise line is implementing Elon Musk’s SpaceX high-speed broadband service Starlink across all ships.

Installation will be complete by the end of October making Hurtigruten Expeditions the first cruise line to introduce the high-speed, low-latency connectivity across its entire fleet.

Hurtigruten offers free internet connectivity for guests and all crew members and the groundbreaking broadband internet solution – using a network of low-orbit satellites – is set to further enhance the guest experience.

Greek cruise line Celestyal Cruises has axed some of its Covid requirements: passengers no longer need to show proof of valid vaccination or recovery certificates.

However, guests will continue to have to provide a negative Covid test before embarking a Celestyal ship.

Accepted tests include a rapid antigen test completed up to 48 hours before embarkation or a PCR test carried out up to 72 hours before embarkation.

Last month Celestyal announced the removal of its COVID-19 vaccination, proof of COVID recovery and pre-departure testing requirements for all guests on sailings commencing on or after March 2, 2023, unless required by local regulations.

Silversea has revealed who will be the godmother of its new ship Silver Endeavour.

Felicity Aston MBE, a celebrated polar explorer, author, television presenter, and climate scientist will take on the role for the world’s most luxurious expedition vessel.

Aston became the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica in 2012 as well as the first person to traverse the continent by muscle power alone. She has since been awarded the Polar Medal and has been appointed MBE for services to exploration.

As the ship’s Godmother, Aston will officially name Silver Endeavour and bless the vessel for good fortune during an intimate ceremony in Antarctica – to be held in the days before the ship’s inaugural voyage, departing on November 21.