AIDAcosma floated out at the Meyer Werft

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 11 July 2021 11 July 2021

This Saturday, the AIDAcosma was floated out at the Meyer Werft's covered building dock II (Hall 6). The 337-meter-long cruise ship for the cruise line AIDA Cruises started moving in the morning. The AIDAcosma is the sister ship of the AIDAnova, which Meyer Werft completed in 2018 as the world's first cruise ship to run entirely on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The newbuilding then moored at the outfitting pier in the shipyard harbor. After the maneuver, the masts and funnel are lifted onto the ship by crane and assembled.

Low-emission LNG engines from Caterpillar/MaK, which meet the strictest environmental requirements, will again be used on board AIDAcosma. During the development and design of this class of ship, the focus was on energy efficiency. Heat recovery, innovative electric motors, LED lighting, a ship automation and glazing system focused on energy efficiency, optimized and biocide-free underwater coatings for drag reduction, weight optimization in the selection of materials, and many other issues were given the highest priority in the design and construction.

At Meyer Werft's outfitting quay, the interior outfitting of the AIDAcosma will be completed. The ship will then embark on the Ems passage to complete the technical and nautical sea trials.

AmaWaterways partners with Metropolitan Touring to launch river cruises in Colombia

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 10 July 2021 10 July 2021

AmaWaterways has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Metropolitan Touring, South America’s leading tour operator, to introduce a new river cruise experience in Colombia. Becoming the first luxury river cruise line to sail the Magdalena River, this alliance brings together the in-depth destination expertise of Metropolitan Touring and the industry’s leading team of river cruise experts at AmaWaterways.

Starting in December 2023, guests will be immersed in unique experiences on shore as well as on board a new custom-built, all-suite, eco-friendly river cruise ship. The new ship and cruise program will incorporate years of design experience from AmaWaterways’ President and Co-Founder Rudi Schreiner — affectionately known as the ‘Godfather of River Cruising’ — plus Metropolitan Touring’s decades of expertise in expedition cruising in the Galápagos Islands.

“Not since my early university days of exploring the Amazon River have I felt the excitement of discovering a new destination that is so rich in biodiversity and culture, as I found on the Magdalena River in Colombia,” said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “I’m absolutely captivated by the rich history, wildlife and friendly welcome that awaits our guests when our intimate, all-suite ship sets sail in December 2023.”

“Colombia has always been a country close to my heart and every trip I’ve made to the Magdalena over many years has been full of amazing, life-affirming experiences that touched my soul. Finding the right partner to develop the first-ever eco-friendly river cruise experience for Colombia was therefore of utmost importance to me and our company,” said Paulina Burbano de Lara, chief executive officer of Metropolitan Touring. “We know that Rudi, Kristin and all the AmaWaterways team share our passion for the River Magdalena and we’re delighted that together we will create innovative and enriching experiences for guests.”

Guests will be able to choose between two seven-night itineraries with pre- and post-cruise land programs exploring the magnificent Magdalena River and delving into Colombia’s vibrant cultural and natural heritage. Accompanied by a skilled team, which will include a wellness manager on-board, river cruise travelers on the Magdalena River will enjoy in-depth connections with local nature, wildlife, culture, flavors and people, as well as activities such as kayaking, hiking and birdwatching.

“Drawing on each company’s expertise, AmaWaterways and Metropolitan Touring have together created a unique river cruise and land program that will immerse travelers in the beauty of the “River of a Thousand Rhythms,” said Camilo Calderon, General Manager of Metropolitan Touring Colombia. “Our guests will enjoy the modern comforts of an upscale river cruise ship, with exclusive experiences and unparalleled service, hallmarks of both companies, to the very heart of Colombia’s soul.”

“It is incredibly exciting to be able to launch a new river cruise destination like Colombia, with such a colorful history and artistic background,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “We are celebrating 19 years of creating authentic river cruise experiences in Europe, Asia and Africa and now, with our world-recognized destination partner, Metropolitan Touring, we will be able to offer our guests an opportunity to explore a fourth continent while discovering the hidden gems of Colombia along the majestic Magdalena River.”

Specific itineraries are currently being developed with more details anticipated in the coming weeks.

Crystal Endeavor departs MV Werften Stralsund shipyard

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 10 July 2021 10 July 2021

Today the first “Made in Germany” PC6 luxury expedition yacht cruised out of MV Werften in Stralsund. At 4 p.m. the signal horn of the Crystal Endeavor blared loudly several times over the Strelasund strait to bid farewell to the Hanseatic City of Stralsund. Many Stralsund shipyard employees accompanied by their families waved goodbye to “their” ship from the quayside. Hundreds of onlookers – both local people and tourists – had also gathered in Stralsund to wave farewell to the expedition mega yacht, which departed MV Werften in Stralsund, where she was designed and built, bound for Iceland and her inaugural voyages.

The vessel, which had been built from 2018, was named by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig two weeks ago, on 26 June. The change of flag and transfer to the luxury cruise line Crystal Expedition Cruises then followed on 29 June. The 20,200 gross ton Crystal Endeavor with her length of 164.50 m and width of 23.40 m is the world’s largest luxury expedition yacht and meets the highest safety and technical standards. She can accommodate a maximum of 200 passengers and offers a 1:1 crew to passenger ratio.

“Today is a milestone day for Crystal as our new state-of-the-art expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor sets sail to Iceland from MV Werften to set a new industry standard as the most spacious, most powerful and most luxurious expedition ship in the industry,” said Jack Anderson, President of Crystal. “We want to thank everyone at MV Werften for their partnership and their uncompromising German engineering and design excellence in crafting an intrepid new polar class yacht that will offer our guests incredible adventures to the far reaches of the globe, with the highest standards of safety, sustainable and eco-friendly features that demonstrate extreme care for our guests and the world’s oceans and the destinations we visit.”

Crystal Endeavor is now en route to Iceland and is scheduled for a July 15 arrival in Reykjavík. She will depart Iceland’s capital on her inaugural voyage on July 18 on the first in a series of five 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland. Future destinations will include the Arctic, Antarctic, Norway, Argentina and South Africa.

Scenic Eclipse to visit Saudi waters for the first time

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 10 July 2021 10 July 2021

Scenic Group has announced that the company’s ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse will do a series of itineraries in the Red Sea for the first time in 2021. Scenic Group’s first purpose-built ocean cruise ship will sail Saudi waters from July 17 to December 9, 2021. Selected sailings from October to December will be open to international guests to experience the rich Saudi heritage, stunning landscapes and warm and welcoming hospitality.

Scenic Eclipse sets the standard in ultra-luxury cruising in terms of technology, size and design. Built to deliver an experience of a lifetime, the ultra-luxury yacht takes cruising to a whole new level – marrying luxury, discovery and safety, and offering guests the opportunity to explore above and beyond what was previously imaginable. From nature to cultural encounters, and historic cities to ancient monuments, Scenic Eclipse will offer Red Sea voyages sure to excite. Equipped with an on-board submarine, two helicopters for flightseeing, a fleet of Zodiacs and up to a 20-person Specialist Discovery Team, Scenic Eclipse offers the opportunity for unrivaled exploration. Guests will also enjoy a wealth of innovative and lavish proportions in the ship’s Verandah Suites, as well as the entertainment and wellness areas, and 10 dining options to explore the onboard cuisine delights.

Glen Moroney, Founder and Chairman of Scenic Group commented, “Saudi Arabia will be one of the hottest tourist destinations in coming years and we’re very glad guests will get to experience it in 6-star comfort on board Scenic Eclipse. As a business we continue to raise the bar in ultra-luxury cruising and we are confident that this new season will mark the start of a long relationship with the destination and hope to be able to offer more sailings in the region in the coming seasons as the world starts to open up for international travel.”

Scenic Eclipse will home port in Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea coast. It will offer charter services with unique itineraries, as well as pre-planned itineraries. Among the numerous destinations scheduled is Yanbu, the diving capital of Saudi Arabia. This stunning beach destination offers extensive opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and watersports in the pristine Saudi Red Sea, as well as rich cultural experiences. Yanbu also features the Iona wreck, an amazingly preserved British merchant steamer sunk in 1915 which can be explored in spectacular fashion by diving, snorkeling or submarine. Outside of Saudi, Scenic Eclipse will also have the possibility of visiting Aqaba in Jordan and Port Ghalib Marina, just a short distance from Luxor in Egypt.