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Two cruise lines unveil more European summer 2021 cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 May 2021 07 May 2021

AIDA Cruises and Viking have unveiled more cruises in Europe for the summer of 2021.

Viking said that it will restart operations in the Mediterranean with new voyages for vaccinated guests beginning this summer.

"Offered as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, Viking Venus and Viking Sea will homeport in the Maltese capital city of Valletta—a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site—and sail two different 11-day roundtrip itineraries in the Mediterranean,’ the company said in a statement.

Viking also said it is adding more sailing dates this summer for its Welcome Back voyages around Iceland and Bermuda due to strong demand.

Guests on the Malta & Adriatic Jewels itinerary will overnight in Valletta and then sail to Montenegro and Croatia, calling in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Šibenik, before returning to the Maltese archipelago, with a stop in Gozo and finally back to Valletta.

Guests on the Malta & Greek Isles Discovery itinerary will also overnight in Valletta and then sail to Greece, calling in Kalamata, Athens, Santorini, Rhodes and Souda Bay, before returning to Valletta.

Viking Venus and Viking Sea will sail the itineraries between July and early October 2021.

Meanwhile AIDA Cruises in Germany said it will start short cruises from the German port of Kiel on 22 May. The company said it would publish more details about its plans in the near future. TUI Cruises is also reported to be planning resumption of cruises from German ports in the near future.

Holland America Line to restart operations with Greek programme in August

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 May 2021 06 May 2021

Holland America Line, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc group, said it had received approval from the Greek government to restart cruising from Piraeus (Athens) in August with four departures aboard Eurodam.

“Departing Aug. 15 and 29, the "Idyllic Greek Isles" itinerary features Kotor, Montenegro, plus the Greek isles of Kékira (Corfu), Thíra (Santorini) and Mykonos. "Ancient Wonders" departs Aug. 22 to explore Haifa, Israel, as well as Náfplion, Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece. Both options can be combined to form a longer, back-to-back 14-day Collectors' Voyage,” the company said in a statement.

A seven-day "Adriatic Allure" itinerary departing Sept. 5 would sail from Piraeus to Venice, Italy, with calls at Mykonos, Katakolon (Olympia) and Crete (Chania), Greece, and Sarandë, Albania, the company said.

“Additional Mediterranean cruises aboard Eurodam through the fall will be announced in the coming weeks and include ports in Italy and Greece. Eurodam returns to the United States to begin sailing its published Caribbean cruises in mid-November,” Holland America Line said.

CDC publishes demands to be met before cruising in US waters can resume

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 May 2021 06 May 2021

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Washington has published the next two phases of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) for cruise ships operating or seeking to operate in U.S. waters.

CDC published an 11 page technical instructions for cruise ship operators preparing to conduct simulated trial voyages in advance of restricted passenger voyages under a Covid-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate.

“With the issuance of these next two phases, cruise ship operators now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages before resuming restricted passenger voyages and apply for a Covid-19 conditional sailing certificate to begin sailing with restricted passenger voyages,: it said in a statement.

CDC said it may adjust these requirements and recommendations based on public health considerations and other factors.

MSC Seaside joins MSC Grandiosa in Western Mediterranean

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 May 2021 05 May 2021

MSC Seaside has joined MSC Grandiosa back at sea this past Saturday, welcoming guests back on board for weekly 7-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean as the company ramps up its resumption operations, MSC Cruises said in a statement.

The itinerary features destinations in Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia, Italy. “The ship is now two days into her voyage, having departed from Genoa, Italy on 1 May, followed by a relaxing day at sea on Sunday and is now in the stunning port of Valetta, Malta today. As part of her itinerary, the ship will also call in Civitavecchia for Rome,” the company said.

MSC Seaside becomes the second ship back at sea for the 2021 summer season, with further ships, including sister ship and future flagship MSC Seashore to join them in the Mediterranean from August. All ships will implement the Company’s rigorous health and safety protocol, which has been developed with a Blue Ribbon Panel.

Iona to be named with bottle of cider

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 May 2021 05 May 2021

P&O Cruises in the UK said its latest ship, Iona, would be named by a bottle of cider in a ceremony on 16 May.

Travel industry ambassador Dame Irene Hays, DBE, chair of Hays Travel, Britain’s largest independent travel agency, will be Iona’s godmother.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Cider has often been used throughout history for ship launches, most notably during Prohibition, and for P&O Cruises and Iona, with her many “firsts”, it is very fitting to have English apples, grown from this ancient soil and pressed in this country, for the christening.”