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Oceania Cruises' new Allura floated out at Fincantieri's Genoa shipyard

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 July 2024 02 July 2024

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has marked an important milestone in the construction of its new 1,200-guest ship, Allura, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy, bordering the famed seaport of Genoa. A landmark moment as the ship moves towards completion, the vessel was floated from the dry-dock and moved to the fitting-out berth to begin outfitting the luxurious, designer-inspired interiors.

The ship was blessed by the shipyard’s chaplain, Father Stefano, in a low-key ceremony in deference to the recent passing of General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of Fincantieri. Allura’s shipyard Madrina, Caterina Romeo, a designer in Fincantieri’s technical department, christened the ship as is traditional, endowing blessings upon the vessel and all who embark upon her.

"Our hearts and minds are with the entire team at Fincantieri as they mourn the passing of General Graziano,” stated Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises.

“The float out is an important moment for all at Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri, as we progress closer to Allura joining our family. Now that we have completed her shell, we are excited to get started on her interior. We have lots of exciting enhancements on Allura, our eighth vessel, further elevating our offerings and firmly cementing Oceania Cruises as the only ultra-premium cruise brand.”

Allura is striding quickly towards her debut and is now entering the final stages of construction focusing on her opulent suites, sophisticated lounges, and exceptional restaurants, all embodying Oceania Cruises' commitment to culinary excellence and destination immersion. Allura promises to be a masterpiece of refined design and innovative offerings, setting new standards in the cruise industry.

Allura will officially enter service from Trieste, Italy, on July 18, 2025, cruising six days to Athens, Greece, calling at gems in the Eastern Mediterranean including Rijeka, Croatia; Ravenna, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Kotor, Montenegro.

Following her summer season in the Mediterranean, Allura will sail to Canada and New England for a series of immersive voyages in North America before her premiere winter season in the Caribbean, homeporting in Miami. As part of her inaugural collection, Allura will also be conducting a one-of-a-kind four-day voyage sailing roundtrip from New York City in September 2025.

Allura is the eighth vessel for Oceania Cruises and the line’s second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship. She follows her sister ship, Vista, which launched to great global acclaim in May 2023.

Love by Britto officially opens onboard new Sun Princess

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2024 01 July 2024

Princess Cruises’ newest culinary experience – Love by Britto - has officially opened aboard Sun Princess, and guests are savoring every moment of the creative fusion in this first-of-its-kind collaboration between art icon Romero Britto and culinary master Rudi Sodamin.

Love by Britto presents a dining experience where the iconic artistry of Britto blends with the culinary genius of Sodamin to create a feast for both the eyes and the palate with a delectable seven-course, prix fixe menu.

“The art of Romero Britto makes people happy with his unique expression of the universal language of love and his creative inspiration blends with my culinary passion to deliver a high-end, meticulously curated menu that guests full of memories overflowing with love was a transformative experience,” said Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts for Princess Cruises. “We’re both proud to see Love by Britto come to life with Sun Princess guests celebrating this exclusive dining event, showcasing the harmony between food, art and love.”

Located on deck 17 aft, guests enter the intimate 68-seat venue featuring an exquisite display of the artist’s familiar and joyful designs against the restaurant backdrop designed to immerse couples in a world of vivid colors, bold patterns and heartfelt emotions, creating an ambiance with extraordinary, engaging service topped off with breathtakingly romantic ocean views.

The seven-course dining experience begins with intoxicating aphrodisiacs like Oysters with Lemongrass Kafir, Mirin and Gold Flakes.

Entrees feature creative heart-shaped presentations and include savory Tuna & Avocado, Pomegranate, Togarashi; Cappuccino of Wild Mushroom soup; Salad of Beets, Figs and Goat Cheese; Granita of Pink Champagne and Rose Petals; Tail of Lobster Thermidor (photo below); and Succulent Beef Tenderloin and Truffle Jus. In true Love Boat style, dessert features a heart-shaped Chocolate Lava Cake, Fresh Berries & Raspberry Cream, plus Petits Fours.

Additional special touches include vibrant dinnerware featuring Britto’s art, heart-folded napkins and even cutlery with heart-shaped cut outs. Love by Britto carries a cover charge of $79 per person and can be booked pre-cruise in the Princess app.

Specialty cocktails and an extensive wine list were thoughtfully crafted and selected to complement the menu and are available à la carte. Seven newly crafted, love-themed cocktails were created with offerings including:

Strawberry Love Potion – Tequila Rose, Disaronno Amaretto, Chambord, Strawberries
Expresso My Love – Jameson, OM Chocolate Liqueur, Disaronno Amaretto, Demerara, Chocolate Bitters, Espresso
Britto Coupe – Grey Goose Strawberry and Lemongrass, Aperol, Cointreau, Lime, Strawberries

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection announces its first Asia-Pacific season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2024 01 July 2024

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has announced its expansion into the Asia-Pacific region with Luminara, offering 10 new journeys between December 2025 and May 2026. These voyages will explore 28 ports across 10 countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and beyond.

“As luxury travelers continue to seek unforgettable, personalized experiences around the world, we are thrilled to introduce voyages in the Asia-Pacific region,” commented Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “These new itineraries exemplify our steadfast commitment to continually raising the bar in luxury cruising, offering innovative ways to experience our superyachts and explore vibrant local cultures across the globe.”

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is dedicated to inspiring guests by creating experiences that fuel curiosity and foster genuine connections. The 10 enchanting journeys, ranging from 10 to 15 nights in length and departing from either Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore, provide guests with the opportunity to discover the ancient treasures, modern marvels, and the exotic, off-the-beaten-path locations the region has to offer. Itineraries will include stops in coveted ports such as Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam; Puerto Princesa, Philippines, and access to lively city centers such as Seoul, South Korea; Osaka, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand, and more.

“As the first luxury hotel brand to venture into the cruise space, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of our yacht voyages into Asia’s most sought-after destinations. This milestone underscores our commitment to providing exclusive and immersive experiences that cater to the discerning tastes of luxury travelers,” said Jenni Benzaquen, Senior Vice President of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Bulgari Hotels and Resorts. “Today’s sophisticated adventurers seek intimate, authentic, personalized journeys that go well beyond traditional hospitality, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers guests unparalleled access to the world’s most exquisite destinations, all while enjoying the hallmarks of luxury and personalized service for which The Ritz-Carlton brand is renowned.”

The debut of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection marked the first time a luxury hospitality company expanded into the cruising category. Since its debut with Evrima in October 2022, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has welcomed travelers to embark on extraordinary journeys of discovery. With the upcoming launch of Ilma, the collection’s second luxury superyacht, slated for this September 2024, and the debut of Luminara, the third luxury superyacht, slated to set sail in July 2025, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection continues to redefine the category, delivering unforgettable explorations at sea.

Luminara will offer 226 spacious suites, accommodating up to 452 guests. The onboard experience will feature world-class dining, an extensive wine collection, a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa, and an expanded dynamic marina providing direct access to the sea. Upholding The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s commitment to enriching experiences and legendary service, Luminara ensures an intimate journey with one of the highest staff and space ratios in at sea. Luminara will also offer itineraries in the Mediterranean during its inaugural launch season.

Photo: Luminara will be a sister for the Ilma, which recently conducted its sea trials

Stena RoRo places order for two new multi-fuel E-Flexer ropax vessels

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 June 2024 29 June 2024

Stena RoRo has ordered another two E-Flexer ropax vessels from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The vessels will be delivered in 2027 to the Greek shipping company Attica Group and will operate in the Adriatic Sea. This is Stena RoRo's fourteenth and fifteenth vessel in the E-Flexer series.

The two vessels will be on long-term charter agreements to the Attica Group with an option to purchase and a potential option for two more vessels.

The E-Flexer series is based on a concept with larger vessels than today's standard ropax ferries and is very flexible. Each ship is tailored to the customers' needs, both commercially and technically. Optimized design of the hull, propellers and rudders, together with possibilities to incorporate new environmentally friendly technologies, help to ensure that the E-Flexer vessels are at the forefront when it comes to sustainability, performance and cost effectiveness.

The vessels' engines are of the multi-fuel type and can run on conventional marine fuel (HFO or MGO) or biodiesel. In addition, the engines are methanol ready. The E-Flexer concept has been designed in line with future environmental requirements and, through its technical design, can meet both existing and future international requirements by a wide margin. The vessels will be designed with the classification society notation “Battery power” which means that in the future the vessels will also be able to utilize batteries as a means of propulsion, partly or completely, depending on the battery development.

Panos Dikaios, CEO, Attica Group commented: ”For three decades, the Attica Group has been renewed through the design and construction of new vessels. The Superfast series redefined the Adriatic ferry market in terms of quality and speed, the sister vessels Blue Star Patmos and Blue Star Delos significantly upgraded the travel experience on the Aegean Sea routes and the latest addition, the three state-of-the-art Aero Highspeed, have already contributed substantially to the increase of visitors to the Saronic Islands. Our agreement with Stena RoRo for the charter of two new state-of-the-art vessels, sets new standards for the entire Greek ferry industry. It drastically reduces our environmental footprint, redefines the travel experience and responds dynamically to the challenges of tomorrow.”

Per Westling, VD Stena RoRo stated: ”The E-Flexer vessels to Attica have been jointly designed and ordered as the most bespoke E-Flexers so far. The design is extremely versatile, and the ships will, with their inherent flexibility of different fuels, battery hybrid operation and many other fuel saving features, play an important role in the green transition of the Attica Superfast Adriatic RoPax service.”

Stena RoRo currently has 15 confirmed orders for E-Flexer vessels, as well as two so-called "New Max" roro vessels, at CMI Jinling, Weihai shipyard. Ten ships have been delivered.

Specification of Stena E-Flexer orders:

1. Stena Line: Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivery 2019
2. Stena Line: Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivery 2020
3. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery 2020
Long charter agreement
4. Stena Line: Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivery 2021
5. DFDS; DFDS network; delivery 2021
Long-term charter agreement
6. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery 2021
Long-term charter agreement; LNG operation
7. Stena Line; Stena Line network, delivery May 2022 from the shipyard
Extended version
8. Stena Line; Stena Line network, delivery September 2022 from the shipyard
Extended version
9. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery December 2022
Long-term charter agreement; LNG operation
10. Marine Atlantic; Marine Atlantic network, delivery February 2024
Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation
11. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network, delivery 2024
Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation
12. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network, delivery 2025
Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation
13. Corsica Linea, Corsica Linea network, delivery 2026
LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation
14. Attica Group, delivery April 2027
Methanol ready, battery-hybrid installation
15. Attica Group, delivery August 2027
Methanol ready, battery-hybrid installation

About E-flexer No. 14 and 15:
Length: 240 m
Draught: 6.4 m
Beam: 27.8 m
Capacity: 1500 passengers and 3320 cargo meters freight
Passenger cabins: 256
Speed: 24 knots

Spirit of Tasmania IV conducts first sea trials

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 June 2024 25 June 2024

As the newbuild of Spirit of Tasmania IV nears completion, the ship took to the open seas for the first time on a five-day trial run from Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland.

During the sea trial, the ship was put through a series of rigorous tests to check performance capabilities such as speed and maneuverability as well testing all of the key systems including the onboard safety and emergency systems.

Bernard Dwyer, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Spirit of Tasmania, said he was very pleased with the performance of the vessel during the trial.

“The ship performed well against every measure and we’re just really excited to see the ship sailing for the first time,” he said.

“Although there is still quite a lot to do before the ship is ready for service, this successful sea trial brings us one step closer to bringing the ship home to Tasmania.”