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HX launches program with university to educate Antarctic passengers

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2024 15 November 2024

HX, ormerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions, has announced a pioneering global partnership with the University of Tasmania and its Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).

This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both HX and the University as it brings together one of the world's oldest and leading expedition companies and a globally renowned education and research institute with a focus on Antarctic and polar studies.

For the first time, HX’s guests and expedition teams will have the unique opportunity to explore Antarctic and polar science with world-leading researchers, in a university-developed program that blends immersive learning with real-world experiences – with the online course being able to be accessed anywhere in the world.

Participants will experience an enriched journey through the wonders of the polar region of Antarctica and upon completion, both guests and expedition staff will receive an official University of Tasmania certificate.

A unique, strategic partnership

The University of Tasmania is based in Hobart, Australia, and is home to IMAS. IMAS is recognised as a center of excellence for marine and Antarctic research, leading ground-breaking studies across scientific and social science boundaries. Their work is dedicated to enhancing environmental understanding and driving sustainable development worldwide.

HX and the University have worked together for four years, laying the groundwork for this strategic collaboration. Their relationship aligns with the Tasmanian T2030 Visitor Economy Strategy, which seeks to encourage tourism that provides benefits to the regions that the university operates within. It also aligns with the T2030 mandate to foster collaboration between organisations such as Tourism Tasmania, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and the tourism industry, to ensure a sustainable tourism industry in Tasmania and its Sub-Antarctic Islands.

HX has hosted over 30 scientists and UTAS-related university students on polar expeditions over the last three years to work on scientific and social science projects. This is part of HX’s ongoing science support program that provides over 1,800 free cabin and cruise nights to scientists and research students each year, an initiative that’s part of the expedition company’s ongoing and significant focus on sustainability.

Guest and staff educational program

As part of this partnership, the University and HX will launch this education program to both guests and staff starting in the late 2024 season.

The program will offer a unique educational journey – from Antarctica’s fascinating history and the science of polar regions to responsible tourism and Antarctic governance. Topics include:

1: The human history of Antarctica
2: Who owns Antarctica? The Antarctic Treaty System
3: The Southern Ocean
4: Ice core studies
5: Wildlife and ecological communities
6: Climate change
7: Citizen science

The program named ‘The HX Pre-Departure Course’ has been designed and developed by leading academics from the University and IMAS as well as guest collaborators, ensuring participants gain cutting-edge insights into the fascinating polar world. It will be delivered through a specially developed syllabus of engaging content, including online seminars, interviews and live Q&A sessions, available before, during or after the physical HX journeys.

Benefits for guests and HX expedition staff

Speaking about the partnership, Dr Verena Meraldi, HX’s Chief Scientist said: “For HX guests, this collaboration offers a world first for our industry and a market-leading program that will enrich their travel experience with knowledge, scientific education, and inspiration.

“We have carefully curated the syllabus, optimised for curious travelers – who do not just want to explore but want to take that knowledge further and hopefully use that as a force for good for the future.

“This new program will ensure our guests gain a deeper understanding of the regions they explore – and an official University Certificate to mark their learning journey.”

The short but detailed course (which is roughly 4-hours of content) will also be available to HX staff, providing access to and the benefits of learning from experts sharing contemporary knowledge of Antarctica.

HX is the only expedition cruise company in this sector to offer their staff access to a tailored education experience, developed by a world leader in Antarctic and polar education.

A new chapter in mindful expedition travel

HX’s VP Sustainability, Guest Learning and Industry Relations, Tudor Morgan, who is also a world-leading expert in Antarctica, said the partnership was a testament to HX’s commitment to delivering unique and enriching experiences for guests, while empowering their expedition teams with unparalleled knowledge and training.

“Together with the University of Tasmania, we are breaking new ground in expedition travel, offering scientific educational opportunities that are truly transformative and based in ocean conservation.

“This collaboration represents a bold step forward in bridging the worlds of exploration and academia, offering travelers and professionals alike an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the polar regions, while contributing to their academic and personal growth.”

University of Tasmania’s Acting Executive Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering, Dr Angela Castles, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative.

"The University of Tasmania is thrilled to work with HX in this pioneering initiative. We’re combining world-class education with an unparalleled opportunity to explore the polar regions, all while contributing to the understanding of crucial environmental challenges.

"This partnership is a natural extension of our focus on sustainability, climate and marine science. We look forward to seeing both guests and HX staff deepen their knowledge of the Antarctic and make meaningful contributions to scientific research.

"This collaboration highlights the University of Tasmania's commitment to connecting research with real-world experiences. Through this program, we’re giving both guests and expedition teams the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Antarctic environment while advancing their learning journey."

In their personal itineraries, HX guests will be able to find out more about the program, which will launch as a pilot program later this month on the 27th November 2024 - it is sent to travelers 60 days before departure. This short course will be free for HX guests travelling to Antarctica.

Celestyal to add 47 additional cabins to Celestyal Discovery, increasing cabin count by 7.4%

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2024 15 November 2024

Celestyal has announced a new investment in its fleet with the latest refurbishment plans for the company’s newest ship, Celestyal Discovery. The refurbishments include the introduction of 47 additional cabins, increasing the total number of cabins by 7.4%, reaching 680 cabins.

The new rooms will include two Grand Horizon Suites with large balconies and a unique location above the bridge. These suites will have a new design style that will vary with the home ports each season. There will also be 30 new Junior Dream Suites added, a new category of cabin on the ship, and 15 spacious interior cabins called Cosmos Cabins.

Following the example of its sister ship, Celestyal Discovery will feature the Smoked Olive restaurant as an exclusive dining space for all guests in suites. The refurbishment will also include an additional pop-up style restaurant with a private reservable area, offering high-end regional cuisine inspired by the destinations on the ship’s itinerary.

In recognition of the increase in premium cabins, the company has also announced a significant enhancement to the premium cabin offering across its fleet. In addition to priority check-in, benefits now include a host of amenities such as a Sail Away welcome party for all balcony and suite guests, a pillow menu, daily cocktails at special times and exclusive access to the private Ray’s Sundeck and Cabanas, exclusive to ‘Grand Dream’ and ‘Grand Horizon’ Suites guests. On Celestyal Journey, Grand Suites guests will also receive complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suite, which includes a private Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and a private relaxation area. ‘Stargazer Penthouse Suite’ guests will also enjoy an in-suite bottomless minibar.

Anna Gregori, Vice President, Brand, Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience at Celestyal, commented: “Following the extensive refurbishment of Celestyal Discovery in early 2024, this latest refurbishment reinforces our commitment to constantly evolving our guest experience and delivering added value. The addition of new premium cabins, including our stunning Grand Horizon Suites and a wide range of balcony and suite benefits, provides our guests with even more comfort and choice as they explore the incredible destinations we visit.”

All upgrades will be available on Celestyal Discovery from April 2025 and the new cabins will be on sale from December 10, 2024. The 3-night Iconic Aegean cruise sets sail from Athens on November 21, 2025, with calls in Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos and Santorini. Prices start from €309 per person for a Cosmos Inside Stateroom, €689 per person for a Balcony Stateroom, and €1,009 per person for a Grand Dream Suite, according to the company's current promotional offers, valid until November 24, 2024.

Celestyal Discovery underwent a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in Greece following its acquisition in November 2023. The company invested in the common areas on board, in addition to the complete renovation of the staterooms and the addition of a new coffee bar, Café Nation, as well as the Pizza Oven pizzeria and the Discovery Lounge.

Photo: Celestyal operates two vessels, Discovery and Journeys

Seabourn's expedition voyages drive exceptional bookings

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 November 2024 12 November 2024

Seabourn has experienced exceptional booking volume for its expedition voyages, demonstrating a high level of interest and desire by luxury travelers to experience a Seabourn ultra-luxury expedition vacation.

Current net bookings for expedition voyages are nearly 30% more compared to this same time in 2023. Limited space is available on the award-winning ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, during the 2025 expedition season, including the Northwest Passage, Arctic, Amazon, and South Pacific, with some destinations already sold out. Due to the strong demand and high occupancy levels, prices continue to rise, and guests are encouraged to book now for the best pricing and suite availability.

“We are very encouraged by the extensive amount of interest and bookings for our expedition voyages, which indicates that the time to book a Seabourn expedition is now when space may be limited or even fully booked,” said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. “When we introduced our first expedition ship more than two years ago, we knew that we would deliver an extraordinary experience that would exceed our guests’ expectations, and I’m beyond thrilled to share that we have been able to do this. Our strong booking volume clearly demonstrates that travelers have responded incredibly well to our ultra-luxury expedition experiences.”

Since Seabourn launched its expedition ships, the cruise line has received more than 15 awards and accolades recognizing the outstanding expedition offerings and services.

In addition to the popular 2025 season, space is still available on the line’s 2026-2027 expedition voyages. Travelers who wish to explore the majesty of Antarctica may book a voyage on either Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit in late 2025 and early 2026. The ships will operate a series of 11- and 13-day voyages to Antarctica, as well as two 21-day and one 28-day voyage that will include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

Following the Antarctica season between March and November 2026, Seabourn Venture will sail on a series of 10- to 25-day voyages to Iceland, Greenland, and the British Isles. Seabourn Pursuit will operate expedition voyages ranging from 10 to 22 days to the South Pacific and the Kimberley in Western Australia between March and November 2026. Both ships return to Antarctica in November 2026 through March 2027.

Both Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit offer the same luxurious small ship experience that travelers have come to expect from Seabourn, enhanced by world-class equipment that allows the line to offer its widest range of expedition activities led by an expert 23-person expedition team of scientists, scholars, naturalists, and more. Designed and built for remote, diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards, the ship includes a plethora of modern hardware and technology that extends the ship’s global deployment and capabilities. There is close to 30,000 square feet of deck space and special touches at every turn, as well as indoor and outdoor guest areas with nearly 270-degree views. In addition, a 4K GSS Cineflex Camera is mounted on the mast of the Constellation Lounge and capable of broadcasting imagery from miles ahead on monitors located throughout the ship and in guest suites.

The ships are also equipped with enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity with SpaceX’s Starlink, providing its expedition guests with faster service and greater connectivity, rivaling the best Wi-Fi experiences available on land.

Mitsui Ocean Cruises to offer new and innovative shore excursions program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 November 2024 11 November 2024

For over 100 years, Mitsui Ocean Cruises has sailed the iconic 18,000 miles of Japan’s coastlines showcasing the country’s unique history, traditions, arts and customs. This long history has provided Mitsui Ocean Cruises with unrivaled destination experience and expertise.

As part of its continuous improvement efforts, Mitsui Ocean Cruises has partnered with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism (MLIT) and with local port and tourism boards across Japan. As a result of these collaborative efforts, the cruise line is offering a program of new shore excursions for both of its cruise ships – Nippon Maru and the upcoming Mitsui Ocean Fuji.

Japan has 150 ports of call for cruise ships – more than any other country in the world. Together with its smaller ships, this presents many opportunities to continually review and refine tours and attractions presented to the guests onboard Mitsui Ocean Cruises.

“The wide variety of ports Japan offers and our focus on the smaller ship experience provide us a greater opportunity to create more bespoke and exclusive experiences based on what’s new, different and of potential guest interest,” said Sae Ichikawa, General Manager of Destination Experience for Mitsui Ocean Cruises. “We are excited to optimize the guest experience ashore, so we welcome our partnerships with both Japan’s MLIT and local port and tourism boards across the country to deliver unique, memorable and engaging tours, many of which are exclusive for our guests only. We are also very proud to be able to support and contribute to the economy of the smaller ports around the country.”

MLIT’s broad responsibilities include its nation’s ports and is committed to fostering the sustainable development of domestic ports and revitalizing regional areas through cruise tourism. As part of these efforts, MLIT has collaborated with Mitsui Ocean Cruises to further enhance the cruise line’s high quality shore excursions program.

"The Ministry places great importance on collaborating with Mitsui Ocean Cruises to develop premium shore excursions programs,” said Yusuke Hayashi, Director of Cruise Market Development, MLIT. “We look forward to Mitsui’s efforts to enhance shore excursion offerings and develop innovative programs at emerging ports.”

In addition to MLIT’s efforts, the ports across Japan are represented by proactive and knowledgeable port and tourism boards. Mitsui Ocean Cruises’ partnership with these teams of local experts has yielded a wide variety of new and authentic excursions. Here are a few examples:

–Fugu restaurant and Usuki Castle Town (Beppu): Guests journey to Usuki Stone Buddhas located in southeast of Oita Prefecture. There exist 60 stone Buddhas and 59 of them registered as national treasures. Guests will be impressed by their sheer number and high quality. After that, guests will enjoy a popular delicacy Pufferfish lunch. Then, stroll through the castle town of Usuki on foot with stops at the Usuki Castle ruins, Inaba Family Suburban Residence and Nogami Yaeko Literature Museum, to fully experience the history and culture of Usuki.

– Okonomiyaki in-Depth (Hiroshima): Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is one of the soul foods of Hiroshima. It's unique for its layered preparation, with ingredients like cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, and noodles piled onto a thin crepe-like batter. Enjoy Okonomiyaki at 'Micchan,’ a long-established Okonomiyaki restaurant beloved by the people of Hiroshima, which will be reserved exclusively for Mitsui Ocean Fuji guests. A special and exclusive visit to "Micchan,” where lines are a must, allows guests to enjoy the authentic taste of okonomiyaki while listening to the history and how to eat it.

– Sikoku Pilgrim Walking (Sakaide): First, guests will walk with a guide along the 550- meter pilgrimage route to Negoro-ji Temple to experience the Shikoku pilgrimage to the temple. The pilgrimage route is a charming path with many remnants of the old road still visible today. Guests will enjoy the pilgrimage experience while listening to the special guide's explanations, walking the same path that Kobo Daishi once did. At Nekoro-ji Temple, learn the official way to visit the temple on the pilgrimage route, along with a monk's guide to the temple grounds. Next visit Ritsurin Park where, in the Edo period it was a villa of the feudal lord called Ritsurin – a “hospitality garden,” where the lord entertained his guests. Guests will admire the beautifully manicured gardens.

– Zentuji Temple with Monk (Takamatsu): In this tour, you will be guided by the Monk through the precincts of Zentsuji Temple, known as the birthplace of Kobo Daishi, including Nandaimon (South Gate), the Five-Storied pagoda, Kondo (Golden Hall), and Kaidan Meguri. The Five-Storied Pagoda is a nationally important cultural property, and its normally closed doors will be specially opened for the guests of Mitsui Ocean Fuji, providing an unforgettable experience.

“Collaborating with Mitsui Ocean Fuji to explore ways for guests to enjoy our region is an exciting endeavor, and at the same time, it provides a valuable opportunity to envision and actively shape the future of our community,” said Mayumi Hayashi, Kochi Prefectural Government Port Representative.

These new shore excursions will be offered for the debut cruise of the cruise line’s new 458-guest, 32,477-gross-ton Mitsui Ocean Fuji, scheduled to debut in Yokohama on December 1, 2024. Mitsui Ocean Fuji will be Japan's most luxurious all-suite cruise ship with and spacious passenger venues, traditional omotenashi service, delicately flavored and beautifully presented cuisine, lively entertainment and exciting ports of call. The ship will sail on inspiring voyages celebrating the blue ocean and Japan’s awesome natural beauty.

On sale now, the inaugural season offers a series of Debut Cruises (December 2024-January 2025), including a special New Year’s sailing; Spring and Golden Week Cruises (April-May 2025); and a 66-day Grand Asia Cruise (May-July 2025).

Viking names two newest Nile river ships in Luxor

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 November 2024 08 November 2024

Viking named its newest river ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, with a special celebration in Luxor, Egypt on November 5. The Hon. Edward Herbert, served as ceremonial godfather of the Viking Hathor; his great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, was Howard Carter’s benefactor and co-explorer, whose excavation uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Luxor almost exactly 102 years ago on November 4, 1922. Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Senate, served as the ceremonial godfather of the Viking Sobek. The Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek are identical sister ships to the Viking Aton and the Viking Osiris and are state-of-the-art vessels designed specifically to navigate the Nile River on Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary and built at Massara shipyard in Cairo.

"Today, we are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek to our growing fleet in Egypt. Along with their sister ships, we believe they are by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “We are very grateful for our continued close friendship with the Carnarvon family and that Eddie has honored us by serving as godfather of the Viking Hathor. For more than 15 years, Mohamed El Banna has been a part of the extended Viking family, helping to take good care of our guests in Egypt, and it is a great honor that he is serving as godfather of the Viking Sobek. As our award-winning fleet on the Nile continues to grow, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to this phenomenal destination.”

The naming ceremony of the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek took place at Viking’s exclusive docking location in Luxor and was followed by a celebratory dinner inside the nearby Karnak Temple. Viking’s guests also enjoyed a performance by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®, who sang the Egyptian, Norwegian and United Kingdom’s national anthems in their native languages.