United Kingdom
USACruise news this week ranges from upgrades and new itineraries to coveted events and upcoming ship reveals.
Cruise news this week ranges from upgrades and new itineraries to coveted events and upcoming ship reveals.
Luxury line Silversea has unveiled an exciting promotion so guests can enjoy suite category upgrades.
The limited-time promotion (available on door-to-door fares only) includes up to a two-category suite upgrade on selected voyages, for selected suite categories and USD 1,000 shipboard credit per suite.
Guests may use their credit for spa treatments, speciality restaurants, premium wines and spirits, optional shore excursions, boutique purchases, laundry services and more.
The offer applies to new bookings made through May 31, 2023, and provides exclusive benefits on select voyages departing before May 31, 2024.
Silversea’s door-to-door all-inclusive fares all feature a refundable, reduced 15 percent deposit and price guarantee, as well as private executive transfers between home and airport, international flights and Business Class upgrades, and in-country air and hotels when required by the itinerary, as well as airport transfers and luggage handling.
In further Silversea news, the brand has formed a unique collaboration with the three Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur to offer guests an immersive new culinary experience on the French Riviera.
It will be available during calls to Menton and Monte Carlo in summer 2023 and summer 2024—offered to guests sailing aboard Silver Moon, Silver Dawn, and, once launched, new ships Silver Nova and Silver Ray.
Holland America Line’s 2024-2025 Caribbean season is now open for booking. The premium cruise line is continuing its trend of longer, more immersive cruise itineraries with the introduction of three new voyages that are 14 and 21 days.
Destinations include Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Curaçao; Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Port Canaveral, Florida; St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Curaçao; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola; Antigua; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Bimini, Bahamas.
Nearly all itineraries feature Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s award-winning private island in the Bahamas boasting the finest beach in the Caribbean. On select itineraries, evening departures from Puerto Rico, Curaçao, St. Maarten and Aruba mean more time in port and the chance to experience the vibrant Caribbean nightlife.
Also new for this season is adding Boston, Massachusetts, as a Caribbean departure port — in addition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida — and the return of calls at Bermuda.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced a commission with British digital artist Dominic Harris, to create an interactive work of art exclusively for the soon-to-debut Norwegian Viva, sister ship to NCL’s Norwegian Prima.
The work, titled “Every Wing Has a Silver Lining”, will be on display on Norwegian Viva’s Metropolitan Bar, the brand’s signature sustainable bar, and will feature Harris’ iconic butterfly motifs. Each silver-winged digital butterfly will dynamically respond throughout the day to passing movement, creating engagement with the viewer.
Set to debut this summer, Norwegian Viva will also feature The Concourse – an art walk on the Ocean Boulevard, featuring six modern sculptures
The ship will boast the most spacious accommodations of any new cruise ship in the contemporary segment, elevated speciality dining restaurants including Palomar and Nama, and the return of experiences like The Rush and The Drop, the fastest free-fall drop dry slides at sea, and the three-level Viva Speedway.
Norwegian Viva will begin sailing Mediterranean itineraries in August 2023 and then sail the Southern Caribbean for her 2023-2024 Winter Season offering warm-weather getaways from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Explora Journeys has announced the godmother for debut ship Explora I will be Dr Sylvia Earle, a world-renowned oceanographer, explorer and conservationist.
Dr Earle’s involvement with Explora Journeys underscores the brand’s commitment to sustainable luxury travel at sea and ocean conservation.
The celebrated pioneer of deep-sea exploration will name the ship during its naming ceremony to be held in Civitavecchia, near Rome, Italy, on July 8, 2023.
EXPLORA I will depart for her 15-night maiden journey “Into Epic Fjords and the Arctic Circle” on July 17, 2023, from Southampton, UK.
Princess Cruises is to alter an itinerary onboard Emerald Princess in April 2024 to give guests sailing the Mexican Riviera the rare opportunity to experience a complete solar eclipse at sea.
Travellers on the cruise will be among the few to view the last major total solar eclipse from North America until 2044.
The total solar eclipse, taking place on Monday, April 8, 2024, could last as long as four minutes 28 seconds and will be visible as the moon’s shadow is cast across parts of North America. A view at sea may offer one of the best vantage points!
The total solar eclipse is one of the three remaining worldwide this decade.
Guests on the 10-Day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Los Angeles on April 5, 2024, will gather on the top decks and be given special glasses they can wear to safely view the eclipse.
Astronomy and space exploration enthusiast Fred Cink will be on hand to help guide the viewing experience and cruisers will enjoy specially-themed drinks and bites during the coveted event.
Riviera Travel has announced that four of its 2024 river cruises will offer three-night extended land stays as part of their itinerary:
Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise with Lake Geneva and Golden Pass Extension – comprising a seven-night Rhone cruise, and three nights in a centrally-located hotel in either Lausanne or Montreux.
Rhine Cruise to Switzerland with Glacier Express Extension – comprising a seven-night Rhine river cruise, and a three-night hotel extension: one night in Chur or Davos and two nights in the Alpine resort of Zermatt.
Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise with Lisbon Extension – comprising a seven-night Douro cruise, and a three-night hotel stay in the heart of Lisbon.
The Blue Danube with Budapest extension – comprising a seven-night Danube river cruise and a three-night post-cruise hotel stay in Budapest.
Scenic has announced a new programme of city stay extensions offering guests longer pre or post-cruise breaks in Europe.
Travellers can opt to stay for up to five days in Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Prague, Ljubljana, Zagreb and other major cities, with Scenic arranging accommodation, transfers, tours and meals. These city stays can come before or after a Scenic River Cruise.
What’s more, holidaymakers booking before June 29, 2023, can also enjoy last-minute savings of up to £2,600 per couple.
Emerald Cruises has revealed its latest offers onboard luxury European river itineraries – guests can sail from just £162 per day!
In addition, Emerald Cruises is also offering a free Premium Drinks Package on all Rhine itineraries departing in 2023, and all European river cruise itineraries departing in 2024 when booking before April 30, 2023.
The offers are part of Emerald’s ‘Be our guest’ campaign which includes such itineraries as Eight-day Jewels of the Rhine on a voyage from Amsterdam to Basel; Eight-day Danube Delights visiting Vienna and Budapest; and 15-day Splendours of Europe on an adventure through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
