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USACruise news this week has seen new ship milestones celebrated, celebrity performances announced and exciting itineraries revealed. Read on to find out more.
Cruise news this week has seen new ship milestones celebrated, celebrity performances announced and exciting itineraries revealed. Read on to find out more.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has celebrated a new milestone following the successful conclusion of its inaugural season sailing from Cape Town, South Africa.
Norwegian Jade was the first ship in NCL’s 18-ship fleet to homeport from the South African port, offering international and local guests 12-day Extraordinary Journeys along the coast of South Africa and Namibia.
In further news, NCL this week revealed the year’s themed cruises onboard their chartered ships.
NCL’s parent company will host 13 consecutive events over 66 nights in Spring 2023 showcasing the Company’s dedication to providing one-of-a-kind, immersive adventures at sea for a range of passionate affinity communities.
From wrestling to nurses, comedic internet influencers, the LGTBQIA+ community and music genres such as Rock, Americana, Country, Pop, Electronic Dance and Blues and more, Norwegian Pearl will serve as host to this record-breaking number of back-to-back theme cruises from January 20 to March 27, 2023.
For instance, there’s a four-day cruise hosted by Train with performances from over 20 artists, a Broadway cruise with special performances from Tony Award winners Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, and a gay community cruise to name a few.
Voyages will sail from Miami calling to a variety of Caribbean islands, including the Company’s stunning private destinations of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize.
Cunard has announced that guests sailing onboard Queen Elizabeth in Alaska this summer will have the opportunity to experience the world-famous Rocky Mountaineer train through the spectacular Canadian Rockies.
Holidaymakers will either be able to extend their Alaska voyage with a three-night post-cruise Rocky Mountaineer package or a four-night tour before embarking on Queen Elizabeth in Vancouver.
The three-night tour takes you on an eastbound journey from Vancouver to Calgary while the four-night tour goes the opposite direction and adds a day of sightseeing in Banff, where the highlight is a spectacular trip on the Banff Gondola.
Onboard the train guests will enjoy the expansive glass-dome windows, luxurious coaches, 180-degree panoramic views and GoldLeaf Service. Packages are on sale now.
At the weekend Celebrity Cruises celebrated the float-out of Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in the line’s Edge Series and the “twin sister” ship to Celebrity Beyond.
The moment marks the completion of the ship’s hull and exterior super-structure, and the vessel now progresses to the next phase of construction. Interior work on the ship will now begin and continue over the next several months ahead of the ship’s debut in winter 2023.
Transformational accommodations include legendary two-story Edge Villa staterooms with direct access to the exclusive suite-only The Retreat Sun Deck and Infinite Veranda staterooms that transform into open-air verandas, among the largest at sea.
Travellers aboard Celebrity Ascent will enjoy signature experiences found exclusively onboard a Celebrity Cruises Edge Series ship, such as the iconic Magic Carpet (the world’s first cantilevered cruise ship experience), a sprawling Nate Berkus-designed Sunset Bar; a world-class Resort Deck with exclusive cabanas, infinity-edge plunge pools and two-storey Martini-shaped hot tubs.
There will also be more than 30 food and drink venues, including the high-tech, immersive Le Petit Chef Dinner Experience; the Eden Restaurant offering its three-storey floor-to-ceiling windows, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, featuring the most exquisite cuisine at sea.
Also this week, Greek brothers Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis (pictured) were named co-captains of Celebrity Ascent. The pair will alternate their time at the helm in a three-months on-and-off rotation.
Calling all Take That fans! Gary Barlow will bar performing on Arvia and Iona in 2023 – and P&O Cruises has finally announced the dates.
Gary will appear on the Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands cruise on Iona departing Southampton on March 18, 2023, and a Mediterranean cruise on P&O Cruises’ newest ship Arvia departing Southampton on April 30, 2023.
There will be two exclusive performances on each cruise and all proceeds from ticket sales for the shows will be donated to Child Bereavement UK and Teenage Cancer Trust.
Raffle tickets to Gary’s exclusive shows on Arvia and Iona can be bought for £10 per person on board and spaces are limited.
However, do note Gary will not travel for the duration of each cruise and his travel dates may be subject to change without notice.
Oceania Cruises has announced that the newly re-inspired Riviera will sail in Asia for the first time due to unprecedented guest demand this 2023-2024 season.
The 1,238-guest ship will sail through Arabia, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines offering 25 unique voyages ranging from 10 to 82 days.
These Asia cruises will take guests from the Great Wall and Bangkok’s Grand Palace to the ethereal seascape of Ha Long Bay and Kyoto’s temples and gardens, soaking up the futuristic neon-lit buzzing streets of Hong Kong and Tokyo, along with sacred pagodas and temples, highlighting the Far East’s intriguing blend of the ancient and modern.
Additionally, cruise ships Regatta and Nautica will greatly expand the line’s offerings in the exotic South Pacific, with more opportunities to explore sought-after destinations like New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia than ever before.
Brits can enjoy a sneak peek into life onboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ ship Seven Seas Splendor without ever going onboard as a new eight-part documentary series of Secrets of the World’s Most Expensive Cruise Ship debuts on Channel 5 this week, airing each Friday from January 27.
The documentary series will follow the ship on her inaugural Northern Europe season from Iceland to Norway and through the Norwegian Fjords, to Finland, Estonia, and Copenhagen then onto the Mediterranean from Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and the Canary Islands.
Viewers will follow the luxurious cuisine served to guests on a Regent voyage, from a no-expense-spared Spanish night complete with 48 different dishes and a show-stopping paella, to an intense Lobster Thermidor v Beef Wellington competition in the galley.
The series will also see Executive Sous Chef Kamlesh Koonjee leading his team to prepare a special selection of 240 canapés for the glamorous 30th-anniversary party and transform the pool deck for an al fresco BBQ in a battle against the elements in Stockholm.
The documentary will also follow a new entertainment team as they undergo extensive onboard training ahead of their debut show Crossroads, Destination Manager Roland Moonsamy as he deals with a request for a bespoke, off-menu trip to mark a special occasion, and Social Hostess Annabel Gascoyne as she gives a guided tour to local dignitaries as Splendor makes its inaugural port of call into Gibraltar.
Royal Caribbean has unveiled its Valentine’s Day flash sale taking place February 10-14, offering up to £450 in savings on top of the 2023 Europe bonus for European sailings (discounts automatically applied upon booking).
Holidays include a two-night Paris cruise or a 14-night Mediterranean sailing with Anthem of the Seas or a seven-night Caribbean cruise on Symphony of the Seas with a stop at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day in CocoCay.
