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Celestyal to add second ship in the Arabian Gulf

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

Celestyal has unveiled its cruise program for 2025, 2026 and early 2027, which will be on sale starting tomorrow, June 26, 2024.

The cruise line's newest ship, Celestyal Discovery, will sail the Arabian Gulf winter season beginning in 2025. Celestyal Discovery will join Celestyal Journey in the region, beginning with the previously launched 7-night itinerary 'Amazing Desert' later this year.

Celestyal Discovery will operate rotating 3- and 4-night itineraries from November to March:
– Three-night "Iconic Arabia" cruise, departing from Abu Dhabi and stopping in Doha (Qatar) and Sir Bani Yas Island (UAE). Prices from €279pp.
– Four-night "Iconic Arabia" cruise, departing from Abu Dhabi and stopping in Fujairah (UAE), Muscat and Khasab (both in Oman). Prices from €349pp.
– Guests can also combine itineraries on the seven-night Treasures of the Gulf cruise. Prices from €629pp.
Celestyal Journey will homeport in Doha for the “Amazing Desert” itinerary, in a three-year partnership with this region. The ship will make inaugural calls in Khasab, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. These itineraries include the popular overnight option in Dubai, and guests can also begin and end their cruise in Dubai.

This itinerary begins November 9, 2024, with special sailings including holiday cruises and sailings to the Qatar Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi.

In addition to winte trips to the Arabian Gulf, Celestyal's summer Greece and Mediterranean itineraries are also on sale. Also included are eight additional Sublime Adriatic cruises in 2025 and thirteen in 2026 - due to overwhelming demand for this new 2024 itinerary - through Greece, Croatia (Split or Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Kotor) and Italy (Venice (Marghera) or Bari).

– Celestyal Journey will sail two 7-night itineraries during its Mediterranean and Aegean season:
– The 'Adriatic Sublime' cruise, departing from Athens and late stay in Dubrovnik, and full-day stops in Kefalonia, Kotor, Bari and Corfu, as well as Katákolon. Prices from €789pp.
– The "Sublime Adriatic with Venice, Marghera" cruise, a variant of the Sublime Adriatic, departing from Athens and full-day stops in Kotor, Split, Venice (Marghera) and Katákolon. Prices from €789pp.
– The "Idyllic Aegean" cruise, in 2025 and 2026, departing from Athens and one-day stops in Kusadasi (Ephesus), Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and Milos, plus a late-night stopover in Mykonos. Prices from €789pp.
– 'Idyllic Aegean' cruises can also be combined with 'Sublime Adriatic' cruises on selected dates to form 14-night voyages.

– Celestyal Discovery will continue to offer shorter rotating itineraries during the summer season:
– The three-night 'Iconic Aegean' cruise, departing from Athens and stopping at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Patmos, Crete and Santorini. Prices from €309pp.
– The four-night "Iconic Aegean" cruise, departing from Athens and stopping at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Patmos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. Prices from €389pp.

Celestyal Discovery began operations with Celestyal in March 2024 and Celestyal Journey in September 2023. Both ships can accommodate 1,260 passengers.

Lee Haslett, Commercial Director of Celestyal, commented: "86% of our passengers tell us that they want to sail with Celestyal again, so we are fulfilling our commitment to expand our programs. We are known as specialists in cruises to the Greek islands and the Mediterranean."

New delivery date for Explora II

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 June 2024 21 June 2024

Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of MSC Group, and ship builder Fincantieri have announced a joint decision to set a new date for the delivery of Explora II. After careful and detailed reviews of Explora II, it was decided that more time is needed for the final finishes to the ship to guarantee the highest quality luxury standards and to ensure that the new ship delivers to the fullest on the brand’s promise of an unmatched luxury ocean experience.

Explora II will be delivered on September 12, 2024 and the maiden journey of the new vessel will take place on September 16, 2024 departing from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy with a 7-night journey to Sorrento, the island of Lipari, Trapani and Siracusa in Sicily, Valletta in Malta and Tarragona, Spain. Journeys start at 7 nights and can be extended to 14 or 21 nights with all departures from easily accessible ports such as Civitavecchia, Italy and Barcelona in Spain, while avoiding repetitions of ports during the combinable voyages.

Explora Journeys is contacting guests booked on the voyages affected, either directly or through their travel advisors, to arrange an alternative journey on Explora II or sister ship, Explora I which is also sailing in the Mediterranean Sea.

Explora II will sail this summer in the Western Mediterranean with visits to many less-explored destinations such as Portofino, Porto Cervo, Saint-Tropez, Calvi, Mahon and Monte Carlo with sailings including overnight and longer stays in port.

Fincantieri and Viking sign contracts for two ocean cruise ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 June 2024 21 June 2024

Fincantieri and Viking have announced that they have signed contracts for the construction of two cruise vessels, based on the successful features of the previous ships, which Fincantieri has already built for this shipowner. The vessels will be delivered in 2028 and 2029. The value of this agreement, subject to financing and other terms and conditions, is considered as large1.

The new ships will be built according to the latest environmental rules and navigation regulations and will be equipped with the most modern safety systems.

The vessels will boast all innovations made available by the ongoing cooperation between Fincantieri and Viking for the development of eco-friendly fuels and of sustainable zero- emission power generation systems. The new vessels will be placed in the small cruise ship segment, the gross tonnage is about 54,300 tons and they will accommodate 998 passengers on board in 499 cabins.

This contract confirms the cruise market’s full recovery and its strong momentum, with passenger volumes returned to pre-pandemic level and positive effects on Fincantieri’s solid commercial pipeline, as evidenced by other significant orders signed by the Group earlier this year. It also demonstrates the strong and long-lasting relationship between Fincantieri and Viking - dating back to 2012 - and whose collaboration reaches, as of today, to a total of 20 vessels, including the two purpose-built expedition units of the subsidiary Vard.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, commented: “This order further cements our relationship with Viking and establishes Fincantieri as the partner of choice for ship owners looking to build vessels fit for both current and future energy sources. Together, Fincantieri and Viking are leading the shipping industry in the path to net zero. With this contract, Fincantieri confirms its strong order pipeline and its reputation as a long-term partner of excellence within the cruise sector, as stated in our 2023-27 Industrial Plan”.

Seabourn Pursuit sails into Australia for the first time

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 June 2024 14 June 2024

Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn’s newest ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition vessel, entered Australian waters for the first time, sailing into Darwin in the Northern Territory on the morning of Tuesday, 11th June. The arrival of Seabourn Pursuit marks the start of Seabourn’s highly anticipated inaugural season in the Kimberley region, which will begin on June 12th, when the ship sets sail on the first of six 10-day voyages between Darwin and Broome from June to August 2024.

A once-in-a-lifetime expedition, the Kimberley in Western Australia is one of the world’s most remote destinations, renowned for its otherworldly landscapes, abundant wildlife, and Aboriginal culture. Experiencing the Kimberley with Seabourn Pursuit will provide travellers access to remote locations such as Ngula Jar Island; the most picturesque views throughout the entire journey as the 132-suite ship weaves through the towering cliffs and gorges; and navigation by a world-class expedition team of experts through the most exhilarating nature and cultural experiences in the region.

Travellers will enjoy immersive experiences befitting the rich cultural significance of the Kimberley region. Seabourn recently announced the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as godparents of Seabourn Pursuit, making history as the first ever cruise line to appoint Aboriginal Traditional Owners as godparents. As part of this appointment, Seabourn will make a donation to assist Wunambal Gaambera to develop a self-sustaining industry, producing authentic works of art and craft by Wunambal Gaambera artists to sell. In addition, Seabourn will also supply the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation with pearl shells and various art supplies and polishing materials to foster sustainable, commercial arts and craft initiatives year-round for their artists and craft producers.

Guests who traverse The Kimberley with Seabourn will experience the exhilarating adventure of an expedition sailing - a deeper connection to wildlife, nature, culture and history of the region - with all the ultra-luxury elements that Seabourn is renowned for. Season highlights include:

– Exploration of King George Falls, dual waterfalls and the highest twin falls in Western Australia, and miles-long Zodiac rides through rivers and sandstone gorges crowded with incredible geological formations.
– Helicopter viewing of the Hunter River and the Kimberley en route to the triple falls of Mitchell Plateau on select sailings.
– Montgomery Reef, an ancient and biologically rich reef formed some 1.8 billion years ago and recognized today as one of the most significant geological marine environments in the Kimberley.
– Visit Vansittart Bay, Jar Island and Freshwater Cove - As guests of the Traditional Landowners, view the aboriginal artwork of the Wandjina. Visit remote Islands with the intricate Bradshaw/Gwion Gwion Art.
– Complimentary expedition experiences include Zodiac cruising and nature walks and hikes.

Seabourn’s newest ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit, is an intimate ship with private, yacht-like atmosphere, featuring 132 luxuriously appointed ocean-front veranda suites — taking ultra-luxury travelers further, deeper, and closer to the most coveted and remote destinations in the world. Led by a world-class 24-person Expedition Team to deliver immersive experiences throughout the entire journey, each voyage offers exclusive experiences such as curated shore excursions, cultural tours, guided Zodiac cruises, hikes, nature walks, snorkeling and scuba diving.

MSC Cruises announces future U.S. leadership succession plan

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 June 2024 13 June 2024

MSC Cruises USA President Rubén Rodríguez will retire from his role effective April 30, 2025, given his longer-term personal plans. Lynn Torrent will become the President of MSC Cruises USA beginning on May 1, 2025, consistent with the company’s succession plans. As current Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at MSC Cruises USA, Torrent will continue to work closely with Rodríguez over this extended transition period and collaborate with the U.S. leadership team to ensure a smooth succession.

Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises said, “I would like to thank Rubén for ensuring a smooth transition before his retirement. I am grateful to Rubén for his significant contributions in helping MSC Cruises grow in North America.”

“I want to congratulate Lynn for this well-deserved internal promotion. Since joining MSC Cruises in May 2022, Lynn has had a tremendous impact leading our commercial efforts across sales, marketing, revenue management and contact center functions. I look forward to working with Lynn in her expanded role.”