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Windstar Cruises announces brand collaboration with London’s The O2

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 February 2025 23 February 2025

Windstar Cruises has announced a new sponsorship with AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), the world leader in sports and entertainment. Starting in February, Windstar will become the official cruise line of AEG owned venue The O2, the world’s most popular live entertainment, leisure, and retail destination.

As the world’s busiest arena, The O2 hosts over 200 events a year and has welcomed legendary artists and comedians including U2, Trevor Noah, Adele, The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, Chris Rock, Madonna, Beyoncé, Drake and many more since opening in 2007. It has also been home to world-class sporting events including the London 2012 Olympics, NBA season games, UFC, and the Laver Cup.

Windstar’s sponsorship reinforces a company commitment to supporting and working with brands in the Anschutz Corporation family. Windstar Cruises is owned by Xanterra Leisure Holding, LLC, which like AEG, is part of the Anschutz Corporation. The sponsorship brings Windstar brand exposure across the venue to reach new potential travelers for the line’s small ship cruises. Visitors to the newest Premium space, The NinetyThird by Qatar Airways, will see a Windstar ship model on display year-round.

As the second largest cruise market globally, the UK is a key growth focus for Windstar. Windstar Cruises is strengthening its presence in the region, working with The Cruise Line, which recently launched a new UK website with pricing in pounds. Itineraries created to appeal to UK travelers include a new series of 3- to 4-day cruises sailing roundtrip from London departing from the iconic Tower Bridge, 10-day Canary Islands cruises sailing roundtrip from Santa Cruz de Tenerife November through February, easily accessible sailings in the Mediterranean and Greece, and two 7-night Northern Europe voyages with homeports in London.

“We are thrilled to be showcasing our brand in this iconic venue and to be reaching new prospective guests for Windstar,” said Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “AEG, The O2, and Windstar are all leaders in their respective categories, and we feel this is a great first step in a meaningful and rich collaboration.”

Nathan Kosky, Vice President at AEG Global Partnerships commented: “We warmly welcome Windstar Cruises, our newest sponsor to The O2, as they explore new opportunities for their expansion. We look forward to working together to showcase their offering to the millions of fans who visit the venue every year.”

Celestyal Journey returns to service following refurbishment

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 February 2025 20 February 2025

Celestyal Journey has returned to service in the Arabian Gulf following a planned refurbishment in Dubai.

The 1,260-passenger ship set sail on February 15 on the Amazing Desert itinerary, departing and returning to Doha, making calls in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, with an overnight stay at Dubai Marina, as well as visits to Khasab and Sir Bani Yas Island.

The €6.5 million refurbishment included a new look with the distinctive waves and stars of the new brand identity, matching its fleetmate, Celestyal Discovery. Silicone paint was also applied to underwater areas and the energy management system was updated to improve the ship's operational efficiency and performance.

Celestyal Journey has two additional Amazing Desert voyages scheduled from Doha on February 22 and March 1, 2025, and three voyages from Dubai on February 17 and 24, 2025, plus a new voyage on March 3, 2025, added due to high demand.

Following this season, the ship will move to Athens for the start of its Greece and Mediterranean season, where it will undergo further maintenance procedures before beginning her new Sublime Greece, Italy and Croatia itinerary on April 12, 2025. This itinerary includes calls in Kefalonia, Kotor, Bari, Corfu and Katakolo, with a late-night call in Dubrovnik.

Celestyal Journey will return to the Arabian Gulf on December 6, 2025, opening the season with a special cruise celebrating the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Subsequently, Celestyal Discovery, will join the fleet in the region on 12 December 2025, with Abu Dhabi as her home port.

Lee Haslett, Celestyal’s Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “We are delighted that our beloved Celestyal Journey has returned to service, looking and performing better than ever. Her new livery makes her easily recognisable as a Celestyal ship, while technical improvements will ensure smooth sailing for all our guests.

“We have experienced phenomenal demand on our Arabian Gulf itineraries, with our final three Doha-Doha sailings operating at full capacity. Overall, since the launch of the programme, we have exceeded our occupancy forecasts by 35%, demonstrating the strong interest in exploring this beautiful region on board our intimate, mid-sized ships.”

MSC World America completes sea trials

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2025 19 February 2025

MSC Cruises’ latest newbuild, MSC World America has successfully completed the deep-water intensive systems tests during a final sea trial in the Atlantic Ocean.

MSC World America will become MSC Cruises’ 23rd ship and represents an evolution for the cruise line’s successful World Class platform with re-imagined venues and concepts tailored specifically to the U.S. market, combining European style with American comfort.

The new ship will also be the first in the fleet to feature seven onboard districts that bring together a range of tailored experiences. Combining bars, restaurants, entertainment and leisure facilities, each district will meet the needs, moods and desires of different types of travelers.

The sea trials checked the performance of the ship’s engines, maneuverability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. The ship will now receive her final finishing touches at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France before being officially delivered to the cruise line on March 27.

MSC World America will be officially named on April 9 at the new MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the largest terminal in the world.

The ship’s maiden voyage will be a celebratory sailing to the company’s private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas ahead of the vessel’s deployment in the Caribbean Sea.

The 22-deck vessel has a Gross Tonnage of 216,638 and measures 1,093 feet in length and 154 feet in width. The ship will also have a capacity for 6,762 passengers and 2,138 crew, featuring 2,614 cabins and offering more than 413,334 square feet of public space.

MSC World America will have 18 bars and lounges and 19 dining venues, including four main restaurants, two buffets, two venues in the MSC Yacht Club exclusively for its guests, as well as six additional specialty restaurants.

Guests can expect new dining concepts, including Greek restaurant Paxos and the only Eataly restaurant at sea, along with new complimentary fast casual options to cater to every taste and temptation.

The new flagship will also debut two brand-new lounge concepts – the All-Stars Sports Bar, offering an authentic game-day atmosphere with all-American flair and bar games, as well as The Loft, a multi-purpose venue for comedy, karaoke and more.

The ship’s inaugural season from Miami starts on April 12 sailing an alternating 7-night Eastern and 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries with stops in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Isla de Roatan, Honduras; and Ocean Cay.

MSC World America’s use of LNG enables a direct transition towards drop-in bio and synthetic renewable LNG fuels. The ship is fitted with shore power connectivity, which allows the ship’s engines to be switched off while in port, eliminating local emissions and improving local air quality and the new MSC Cruise Terminal is equipped with shore power capability.

The ship also has an advanced wastewater treatment plant and a comprehensive on-board recycling management plant to minimize waste.

MSC Cruises’ current orderbook includes MSC World Asia to be delivered in 2026 and a yet unnamed fourth World Class vessel in 2027.

Royal Caribbean unveils name of third Icon-class ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 February 2025 18 February 2025

Royal Caribbean has revealed the name and debut lineup of the third Icon-class ship – Legend of the Seas. The unmatched combination of experiences that define the revolutionary Icon-class will sail year-round from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, starting in November 2026 on 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean vacations, including visits to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Prior to her Caribbean debut, Legend will offer summer adventures in Europe with 7-night Western Mediterranean vacations from Barcelona beginning July 2026. Legend's debut lineup will soon open on Royal Caribbean’s website, and Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members will have special access to book ahead of the official opening on Thursday, Feb. 20.

“On the heels of celebrating one year of the record-breaking Icon Class and the memories made by vacationers of all ages on Icon, we are thrilled to announce the name of Royal Caribbean’s third Icon Class vacation,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Legend of the Seas is the next bold step in this exciting era of vacations and the continuation of the Icon Class legacy, and we look forward to bringing the revolutionary lineup of experiences to more families and adventurers across Europe, the Caribbean and beyond.”

In the summer, vacationers can Euro-hop to bucket-list destinations like France, Italy and Spain, filled with historic sites, stunning landscapes and sun-soaked beaches. Legend’s grand Caribbean debut in the winter will take vacationers to the region’s most magnificent destinations in the Western and Southern Caribbean, including visits to the vacation brand’s one-of-a-kind private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, on every getaway. More adventures are in store across picture-perfect spots and next-level activities to match the views, from snorkeling in Oranjestad, Aruba, to lounging on the beaches of Falmouth, Jamaica, and exploring the cultural Willemstad, Curacao.

A legend in the making, the vacation currently under construction in Turku, Finland, is set to be the next chapter of the world’s best family vacation. The third combination of the best of every vacation will bring more of the unparalleled experiences introduced by Icon of the Seas and doubled by Star of the Seas, the next in the lineup debuting in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, in August 2025. There’s something for every type of family and vacationer across eight neighborhoods with more than 40 ways to dine and drink, adrenaline-pumping thrills, unrivaled ways to chill, and plenty of ways for vacationers to make memories together and on their own, without compromise.

Adventurers have in store a lineup of Icon Class highlights on Legend from thrills like Crown’s Edge – part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride – to the largest waterpark at sea, Category 6. Sun-seekers can kick back and choose from seven pools for every vibe and mood, including the largest pool at sea, Royal Bay; swim-up bar Swim & Tonic and the adults-only Hideaway, featuring a one-of-a-kind infinity pool suspended above the ocean. Plus, families of all ages can spend time together or chart their own adventures at Surfside, the neighborhood designed for young families, and with a lineup of activities and ways to stay, including the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse with reimagined spaces for the whole family.

Legend will also be the vacation company’s fourth ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Legend will advance Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

Jaakko Eskola appointed Executive Chair of the Board of Directors for Meyer Turku Oy

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 February 2025 13 February 2025

Jaakko Eskola has been appointed Executive Chair of the Board of Directors for Meyer Turku Oy.

“With Jaakko Eskola, we engage a proven professional who has an international maritime background and is well established in the Finnish industry. He will play a crucial part in our continuous journey of developing Turku Shipyard further.

We have taken several steps in order to return to profitability, especially last year was very busy while we continuously developed the yard and processes. We implemented the last stage of a modern ERP system, developed our organization further and relaunched an improvement program, just to name some. As a result of all this, we are looking forward to announcing our 2024 results later in the spring," comments Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku Oy.

"I am looking forward to further developing the shipyard in Turku in a situation where the market grows and the demand for sustainable shipbuilding is increasing. There is a stable future ahead of us with a lot of opportunities and I am happy to contribute in this with my experience," says Jaakko Eskola.

“With handing over the chair to Jaakko Eskola, we are sending a strong message of commitment to the shipyard in Turku and the Finnish maritime cluster that we as a family have invested a lot of personal dedication in over ten years already”, describes Bernard Meyer.

Jaakko Eskola has worked for Wärtsilä for 23 years, most recently as the Group CEO. He has also held various positions of trust, such as Chairman of the Board at Varma (since 2022), Kalmar Oyj (since 2024), Suominen (2021-2024) and Cargotec (2022-2024). Jaakko Eskola holds a Master of Science in Engineering.