Three more ships find buyers

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 29 September 2020 29 September 2020

Three more elderly cruise ships have found buyers and at least two of them have not been sold for scrap.
 
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line has sold the 1972 built Black Watch and Boudicca to be used as accommodation vessels for a company in Turkey.
 
Both ships are of roughly 28,500 gross tons. They were originally built for the long since defunct Royal Viking Line for worldwide cruising and thus have large cabins. Both ships were lengthened in 1981-82, their original gross tonnage was about 22,000.
 
 “Both Black Watch and Boudicca have served us extremely well during their time with us, and we know that their new owners will be as proud of them as we have been. We are delighted that they will stay together, and will continue to be used and loved in the future,” Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said in a statement.
 
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises Australia has reportedly sold the 1991 built Pacific Dawn of 70,285 gross tons to undisclosed buyers. Built as Regal Princess for Princess cruises, the ship has operated in Australia since 2007.
 
The ship had been sold to a Greek company that was to charter it to Cruise & Maritime Voyages in the UK, but the sale fell through due to the collapse of the said operator.
 
Sister ship Pacific Jewel, built as Crown Princess, is currently operating in India as Karnaka for Jalesh Cruises.

Queen Elizabeth to cruise in Europe, Asia and Australia 2021

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 29 September 2020 29 September 2020

Cunard, the premium to luxury market unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group, said next year’s itineraries on Queen Elizabeth will cover Europe, Asia and Australia.

The ship will make three to 14 night voyages around Europe before making its way through Asia to Australia to end the season.

Cunard president, Simon Palethorpe, said: “We are thrilled to announce such a broad new program for Queen Elizabeth, with sailings from Southampton and, later in 2021, from Barcelona.”

“Guests wanting to explore Europe can experience captivating journeys from a scenic voyage exploring the British coast, to sailings visiting Norway to Iberia.”

“And, for the first time since 2014, Queen Elizabeth will also be sailing a series of fly-cruises in the Mediterranean, departing from Barcelona, and featuring calls including the French Riviera, the west coast of Italy and the islands of Majorca and Corsica,” he said in a statement.

“Queen Elizabeth will finish her season with a transit through the Suez Canal, crossing the Indian Ocean to Singapore, before venturing to Australia.

Palethorpe continued: “As an added incentive, guests can enjoy a complimentary upgrade on their suite or stateroom booking as well as many other special benefits”

The new programme will start in Southampton on April 27th and end on December 19th, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.

The 2021 itineraries will feature a series of overnight port calls to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Rotterdam, Singapore and Auckland, with late evening departures from Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rotterdam, Aqaba, Colombo and Fremantle, Cunard said.

Studio DADO named sole interior architectural firm for the third ship in the Regent Explorer class

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 25 September 2020 25 September 2020

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has named Miami-based Studio DADO the sole interior architect for the line’s newest vessel. The announcement pays homage to Studio DADO as an industry fixture, providing innovative design to the most discerning cruising clients.

Boasting suite-only accommodation for 750 guests, the vessel is poised to provide guests with an exclusive experience on the water. With a delivery date of 2023, the luxurious design and amenities will be revealed prior to the anticipated 2021 voyage ticket release date. Joining the Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor, the third ship will fully reflect the refined style and quality Studio DADO is known for in the industry.

“We had the distinct privilege of creating exquisite experiences for Regent Seven Seas guests in the design of the Observation Lounge and Asian Restaurant in Splendor as well as the Pacific Rim Restaurant and Canyon Ranch Spa in Explore," says Studio DADO Founding Partner Javier Calle. “Our vision for the third vessel is an elevated continuation of the quality and bespoke voyaging lifestyle synonymous with the Regent brand.”

The announcement follows a standout year for Studio DADO. Named by Interior Design Magazine as “The Fastest Growing Firm,” Studio DADO was also recognized on the magazine’s 100 Rising Giants 2020 list for the third year. This recognition on a global platform – based on the prestigious magazine’s annual survey that ranks the largest hospitality design firms by design fees for a 12-month period – cements Studio DADO as the vanguard of hospitality design within the cruise ship industry.

Crystal Clean+ 3.0 protocols introduced for Crystal fleet

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 24 September 2020 24 September 2020

Today, Crystal introduced an expanded set of health and safety measures for its Crystal Clean+ protocols to include requirements for COVID-19 testing for guests and crew, mandatory travel insurance, in-port guidelines and more. The new Crystal Clean + 3.0 protocols build on Crystal Clean+ 2.0, the initial set of enhanced health and safety procedures which the company released in July. The Crystal Clean+ protocols go beyond Crystal’s already stringent practices to further safeguard guests’ and crews’ well-being and offer travelers peace of mind when they return to cruising the world again. Crystal Clean+ 3.0 guidelines feature noteworthy updates in the company’s pre-boarding and embarkation procedures, social distancing requirements, shore excursion policy, crew member standards and practices and more. The new Crystal Clean + 3.0 protocols are tailored to meet the unique needs of the luxury traveler and incorporate the current recommendations provided by Cruise Line International Association’s (CLIA) to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As per Crystal Clean + 3.0, guests will now be required to complete a COVID-19 test prior to departure for their cruise and provide a printed copy of their negative result at check-in—failure to comply with this requirement will result in denial of boarding. In addition, guests will take a second COVID-19 test upon arrival at the pier and must test negative prior to boarding. Guests will be required to purchase travel insurance, which can be purchased via Crystal or a third party.

While on board, Crystal guests are asked to observe social distancing of at least six feet (two meters) of those outside of one’s travel party including dance partners, and as a result Crystal’s Ambassador Host dance program as well as Crystal’s Junior Activities programming and in-suite babysitting services will be suspended until further notice. In order to safeguard the guest experience and ensure consistent safety precautions throughout their journey, guests will only be permitted to disembark the ship in port if participating in Crystal’s shoreside activities or excursions and shuttle buses into town will not be provided when in port; guests who do not comply with this requirement will not be permitted to re-board the ship.

As a part of Crystal Clean + 3.0 program updates, Crystal has also enhanced the health and safety measures for its crew to further safeguard their health and well-being. All crew will be tested for COVID-19 prior to leaving their home location to join the ship and must receive a negative result; they also will take a COVID-19 test at embarkation, quarantine for seven days upon arrival, and take a test at the end of that seven-day period and receive a negative result, before beginning their duties. In addition, crew will be tested periodically during their rotations.

The comprehensive list of Crystal Clean+ guidelines, including the new 3.0 additions, can be found on Crystal’s new Health & Safety Hub on the Crystal website. Crystal Clean + 3.0 measures were released across all brand experiences – Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises and Crystal Expedition Cruises. The Crystal Clean+ protocols are predominantly consistent across the entire Crystal fleet, with some specific nuances to accommodate the differences of the individual ships and Crystal Experiences.

Crystal is committed to being in full compliance with CLIA guidelines as well as the CDC (for Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Endeavor), EU Healthy Gateways (for Crystal Esprit) and any local or national regulations set by European cities and states (for Crystal River Cruises) and, as such, will update these protocols according to their recommendations. Crystal has voluntarily extended its suspension of global voyages until December 31, 2020.

All Crystal ships across the fleet including Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition offer nearly double the space per person than ships of a similar size, which is among the highest space ratios in the industry and their social spaciousness will be further augmented through the Crystal Clean+ program’s evolving public health and safety measures. Further, Crystal Endeavor and Crystal’s River ships are all-suite and all-balcony with most staterooms on its two Ocean ships featuring private verandas for fresh airflow.

The safety of guests and crew members is Crystal’s number one priority and the fleet will resume service only when the company’s expert team and global health and government authorities indicate that it is safe to do so.