United Kingdom
USACruise news comes from multiple major cruise lines this week with a heavy focus on new ships and new itineraries.
Cruise news comes from multiple major cruise lines this week with a heavy focus on new ships and new itineraries.
Newest MSC ship MSC World Europa has begun sailing her first summer season in the Mediterranean today having spent her maiden season in the Arabian Gulf.
The ship will be powered by LNG throughout the summer season, with her first bunkering in Marseille scheduled on April 15, 2023.
LNG is the cleanest marine fuel currently available at scale. Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG virtually eliminates local air pollutant emissions – including sulphur oxides and fine particles – and reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 85 per cent.
MSC World Europa’s key features include the nearly 104-metre-long outdoor World Promenade (home to the longest dry slide at sea), immersive culinary experiences (with a choice of 20 bars and lounges and 13 dining venues), the largest children’s area in the MSC fleet, new entertainment and more.
In further MSC Cruises news, the cruise line has revealed details of the food and beverage offering available on board brand new ship MSC Euribia which will be named in June 2023.
The vessel will feature ten unique dining venues, including five speciality restaurants and five main dining spots, as well as 21 varied bars and lounges.
Cruisers can enjoy immersive and digital Helios Wine Bar, French bistro meets steakhouse Le Grill and new flavours at Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar.
Princess Cruises has unveiled a new speciality seafood restaurant, ‘The Catch by Rudi’ on Enchanted Princess thanks to a joint partnership with culinary icon Chef Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts for Princess.
The Catch by Rudi replaces Bistro Sur la Mer and includes playful takes on seafood go-to dishes like Asian-fried calamari; modern twists on comforting seafood classics such as lobsters with garlic butter crust; and signature seafood inventions from the chef’s personal repertoire including a Towering Trio and Whole Dover Sole. There’s also The Seafood Trolly piled high with fresh lobster tail, shrimp, oysters, mussels and more!
The new restaurant concept will be added aboard Majestic Princess (May 5) in time for its Alaska Season, Sky Princess (May 7) sailing from Southampton on Scandinavian and Baltic itineraries this summer and aboard Discovery Princess in the autumn.
In additional Princess Cruises news, the line has revealed Coronation details for its two UK-based ships Sky Princess and Regal Princess.
Aboard both ships on May 6, live coverage of ‘The Coronation Service at Westminster’ and ‘The Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle’ will be shown on the 300-square-foot ‘Movies Under the Stars’ jumbotron and ‘The Biggest Street Party’ will be replicated on the top deck.
A ‘Royal Afternoon Tea’ will be served on board both ships and talks from guest speaker Grant Harrold, former butler of the King, will take place onboard Regal Princess between May 3-5 and on Sky Princess between May 6-13.
In addition, the Piazza on board both ships will be decorated for the occasion using banners and buntings in Royal colours and guests will be encouraged to wear Royal red, white and blue for a special dress-up night.
Sky Princess is also hosting an exclusive Canary Islands cruise organised by tailor-made cruise specialist, Imagine Cruising, attended by celebrities Russell Watson, Tim Peake, Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag.
Adventure lovers can chart a course to the North Pole in 2024 thanks to travel company Abercrombie & Kent and Ponant.
A&K will exclusively charter the innovative luxury icebreaker ‘Le Commandant Charcot’ with A&K’s award-winning Expedition Team leading the way to the northernmost point on the planet on July 10, 2024.
The ship will charter a course through the marginal ice zone, a far-flung Arctic realm of elusive blue rorqual and beluga whales, en route to 90° North latitude, marking the geographic North Pole.
After overnighting at the top of the world, the Captain will seek out a nearby floe suitable for a gangway landing onto the ice’s surface, allowing guests a once-in-a-lifetime photo op and perhaps, if willing, a polar plunge.
Days at sea are filled with informative lectures, visits to the ship’s lab and bridge, stargazing sessions, seamanship and polar survival workshops, cooking demonstrations, photo contests and more.
Active guests may take advantage of opportunities (weather permitting) to walk on the ice or kayak through open Arctic channels, while others may choose to unwind with daily wellness classes, dips in the indoor and outdoor pools, relaxing sauna sessions or visits to the full-service salon and spa.
Riviera Travel is offering savings of up to £1,000 per cabin, on select European river cruise sailings in October.
The limited-availability offer, open to book now, has nine departures to choose from, across six different itineraries. The sailings, which are all seven nights, cover destinations such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
All sailings include return flights and transfers with regional airport options available, or travel via Eurostar; full board; all visits and tours; a professional tour manager throughout and complimentary onboard tea and coffee.
Viking has announced its newest ship for the Nile River – the 82-guest Viking Aton – was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
Set to debut in August 2023, the Viking Aton will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships purpose-built for the Nile River and sail Viking’s bestselling 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
Viking Aton hosts 82 guests in 41 staterooms and features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
During the 12-day, Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo then fly to Luxor before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River.
The sailing features Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colourful Nubian village.
Holland America Line has launched its ‘Anniversary Sale’ promotion in honour of the line’s upcoming milestone 150th birthday.
The sale feats cruise fare discounts, an onboard spending credit and reduced deposits on most summer 2023 through spring 2024 departures.
Guests who book eligible cruises receive up to 25 percent off cruise-only fares with the Anniversary Sale, along with up to $150 onboard spending money per guest depending on stateroom category and length of sailing, and £150 reduced deposits.
The up to $150 per person onboard spending money for the first and second guests in a stateroom can be put toward a variety of experiences and amenities, including speciality dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, beverages, photographs, souvenirs and more.
Bookings must be made by May 4, 2023, to take advantage of the offer.
