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Costa Cruises takes delivery of LNG-powered Costa Smeralda

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 December 2019 09 December 2019

Costa Cruises has taken delivery of Costa Smeralda, its new flagship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology and part of an innovative initiative to significantly reduce environmental impact. The handover ceremony took place on December 5 at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, where the ship was built.

Costa Smeralda is the first ship in the Costa fleet to use LNG, both in port and at sea. It is part of an expansion plan that includes an investment of over six billion euros for seven new ships to be delivered by 2023 to the Costa Group, which consists of Costa Cruises, Germany-based AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia. Five of the vessels - including Costa Smeralda and her sister ship Costa Toscana, currently under construction at Meyer Turku and scheduled for delivery in 2021 – will be powered by LNG. With the arrival of Costa Smeralda, the Costa Group fleet rises to a total of 29 ships in service, all flying the Italian flag, underscoring the company’s leadership in Europe and China.

The use of LNG is a major development in minimizing environmental impact and significantly improving air quality, with the virtual elimination of sulfur dioxide emissions (zero emissions) and particulate matter (95-100% reduction). LNG also significantly reduces emissions of nitrogen oxide (direct reduction of 85%) and CO2 (reduction of up to 20%).

“Costa Smeralda will be a further boost to the use of LNG in cruise ships, a technology we were the first to believe in, setting a new course in the cruise sector. Our Costa Group has invested in the construction of five new LNG ships as part of our leadership in sustainable tourism. It is an innovation in the cruise and overall shipping industries, destined to mark a step change as it guarantees a significant reduction in our environmental impact without compromising the safety aspects that are an essential priority for us," said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises. “Costa Smeralda is a significant product innovation as well, with Italian hospitality remaining a fundamental and distinctive element of our brand, able to enchant and excite not only new cruise passengers but also more experienced ones".

“We have used all our knowledge, skills and imagination to design and build this ship. I would especially like to mention the Colosseo, a three-deck open area in the middle of the ship with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology inside which required a specific design and building capabilities. We are looking forward to the passengers enjoying some exceptional shows and performances there," stated CEO of Meyer Turku, Jan Meyer.

Costa Smeralda departed the Turku shipyard on December 6 en route to the Mediterranean for three presentations with travel agents: Barcelona on December 18, where the ship will be refueled with liquefied natural gas; Marseilles on December 19; and Savona on December 20. On December 21, Costa Smeralda will leave Savona for its first one-week cruise, calling at Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.

Costa Smeralda is truly a traveling “smart city”. Apart from the major innovation of liquefied natural gas, the ship incorporates a series of cutting-edge technological innovations designed to further reduce environmental impact.

The daily water requirement is achieved directly from the sea thanks to the ship’s desalination systems. Energy consumption is reduced to a minimum by using LED lights, recovering the heat generated by the engines, the particular shape of the hull designed to significantly reduce drag in the water, and new- generation elevators that recover energy by re-introducing it into the electricity system.

Single-use plastic, which for some years has already been eliminated from Costa ships for most catering purposes and replaced with alternative materials, will gradually be reduced well in advance of the European Directive objectives. One hundred percent separate waste collection and recycling of materials, including plastic, paper, glass and aluminum, will be part of an integrated approach designed to support circular economy projects.

Close attention will be paid to food on Costa Smeralda. The brand’s 4GOODFOOD program is dedicated to reducing food waste and recovering surpluses for social purposes. In addition, the new ship will feature the innovations of the LAB – Laboratorio del Gusto Restaurant -- which takes an entertaining approach to involving guests in food sustainability.

With over 180,000 gross tonnage and over 2,600 rooms, Costa Smeralda is the result of a unique creative project led by Adam D. Tihany, created to immerse guests in experiencing Italy’s finest all in one place. Tihany relied on an international pool of four prestigious architecture firms commissioned to design the various areas of the ship. All of the furnishings, lighting, fabrics and accessories are made in Italy, either standard produced or designed specifically for the new flagship by 15 partners who represent Italian excellence. Italian design will also star in the CoDe - Costa Design Museum, the first museum created on a cruise ship. The extraordinary environment also features the Solemio Spa; various entertainment areas, including the Colosseum, with its screens for high-tech content shows; themed bars, in collaboration with major Italian brands; 16 restaurants and “food experience” areas, including a new restaurant for families with children.

Passengers feared missing, Ovation of the Seas to remain in Tauranga overnight after volcanic eruption

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 December 2019 09 December 2019

Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas will remain overnight in the port of Tauranga in New Zealand as a number of passengers from the ship are believed to be missing after a volcanic eruption on White Island, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports.

Master of the ship had made a broadcast about the situation. “He said guests and crew from the boat (sic) were on a tour to White Island where a volcano had erupted. He said they didn't have firm information, but that everyone should hold those affected and their families in their thoughts and prayers,” Donna Field, an ABC journalist on the ship, reported.

“A short time later, a roll call of names was played — presumably the missing. I can't remember how many, but it was a long list,” she added.

Five people are reported death with as many as 10 missing on the island, which is also known as Whakaari, media reports say.

Silversea to fly passengers to Antarctica in business class

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 December 2019 06 December 2019

Silversea Cruises, the luxury brand that is controlled by Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL), has unveiled fly-cruise service to Antarctica in business-class, as part of the largest ever Antarctica offering in the cruise line's history.

“Named Antarctica Bridge, the new service will provide discerning travellers with the fastest, most direct route to the White Continent. Departing from December 2021, the collection of 12 fly-cruise voyages aboard Silver Explorer will further enhance Silversea's industry-leading, all-inclusive Polar offering. Sales for Antarctica Bridge open on December 10, 2019, and fares start from $17,500 per person, based on two sharing,” the company said in a statement.

On the direct flights from Chile's Punta Arenas to King George Island in Antarctica, travellers will fly 670 nm (1,240 km) over the Drake Passage on a private plane – reserved exclusively for Silversea's guests – that has been specially adapted to land on King George Island.

Hosted by Silversea representatives and offering travellers the luxury of a business-class configuration, the flight will take just two hours each way, meaning guests will avoid approximately four days at sea on the return journey. A bespoke in-flight entertainment programme, which will include Zodiac and IAATO briefings, will be tailored entirely for Antarctic expeditions to prepare guests for the unique adventure ahead. Travellers will then spend five full days – the same amount of time as on Silversea's conventional Antarctica voyages – travelling deep into the destination, accompanied by Silversea's team of expedition experts, the company said.

P&O Cruises announces ‘Ionafest’ to celebrate latest ship

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 December 2019 05 December 2019

To celebrate the naming of Iona, its newest ship launching in May, P&O Cruises has announced Ionafest, as part of a week-long Fjords cruise holiday, the company said in a statement.

From Saturday July 4, 2020, the ship will host some of today’s biggest music artists; DJs; TV comedians and entertainers, as it sails to the awe-inspiring Norwegian Fjords from Southampton.

The Ionafest line-up already includes Grammy award-winners Clean Bandit and legendary DJs including four-time MOBO winner Trevor Nelson, MBE; radio presenters Jo Whiley and Sara Cox, as well as Blur’s Alex James.

They will be joined by some of Strictly Come Dancing’s biggest stars, including comedian Chris Ramsey, who will be dancing in this weekend’s semi-finals and will perform his hilarious stand-up comedy set on Iona; judge Motsi Mabuse and professional dancers Amy Dowden and Ben Jones.

Already featuring one of the top music and ‘as seen on TV’ entertainment rosters of the year, the festival headliner and final full show line-up will be announced closer to the sailing date.

Performers will play across the ship’s seven venues whilst the main stage will allow guests to dance beneath the stars under the Iona’s impressive SkyDome glass roof.

Lucky festivalgoers on deck will have opportunities to see not only the Norwegian coastline whilst enjoying cocktails and food ranging from taste-of-the-Med Olive Grove to gastropub The Keel and Cow and pop up festival favourites.

P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, said: “This really is an experience of a lifetime, a complete one-off. When has there ever been the opportunity to see to these award-winning artists.

“We’re also so excited for our guests to be a part of the naming celebrations and we have made sure that there’s something for everyone to enjoy, all included in the price of a ticket to Ionafest 2020.” The festival will kick-off with Iona’s naming celebration on the first evening in Southampton which will be a spectacular start to the rest of the cruise which will feature headline acts, world-class performances and enthralling events at every turn.

“The naming celebrations on the first night, then the dramatic scenery, exclusive performances and special guests will elevate the holiday to an experience that will be remembered for years to come,” said Ludlow.

MSC Virtuosa floated out in France

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 December 2019 03 December 2019

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, last weekend celebrated the float out of MSC Virtuosa at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, the third major new ship building milestone the company has celebrated in the past month at the shipyard.

The float out follows the successful delivery on 31 October of MSC Grandiosa as well as the steel cutting ceremony on the same day of MSC Europa, the Company’s first of five liquified natural gas (LNG)-powered ships.

MSC Virtuosa is the second of three Meraviglia Plus class vessel the company is building at the French yard. Each ship has a gross tonnage of about 181,000.

MSC Cruises also unveiled on the same day a ground-breaking R&D project in conjunction with Chantiers de l’Atlantique named PACBOAT that will focus on the integration of a new fuel cell technology, especially relevant for cruising, on board the LNG-powered MSC Europa. The line said it was committed to contribute to the development of next-generation advanced environmental technology for the benefit of its own environmental stewardship journey and that of the entire cruise industry, the company said in a statement.