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Windstar Cruises introduces new yacht and voyage collection

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 May 2013 18 May 2013

Windstar Cruises, a leader in yacht-style cruising, has announced the debut of its new all-suite yacht, Star Pride, and the 2014 Pride Voyage Collection. The new voyages open for sale today, and feature four new itineraries exclusive to the all-suite yacht, including Windstar's new itinerary through the Black Sea. Star Pride's nine distinctive voyages highlight small-ship ports throughout the Mediterranean seas and French Riviera, tucking into tiny harbors and hidden coves that others can’t reach. The collection features voyages from May 5 to October 21, 2014.

"We are thrilled to welcome Star Pride to our fleet in Spring 2014, enabling Windstar to cruise a global set of itineraries to new destinations including our new Black Sea Tapestry voyage," said Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises’ chief executive officer. "With a maximum of 212 guests on board, Star Pride delivers our promise of the private yacht experience in a casually elegant setting, all while exploring some of the world’s most legendary destinations and hidden harbors."

The four exclusive Star Pride 2014 European voyages include:

Black Sea Tapestry: For the first time, Windstar offers the enigmatic, once hidden, wonders of Europe's Black Sea in signature Windstar yachting style. This seven-day, roundtrip voyage from Istanbul, Turkey departs June 13, 20; and September 8, 2014, and visits five new ports including Yalta, Sevastopol, and Odessa, Ukraine; Constanta (Bucharest), Romania; and Nessebar, Bulgaria. Highlights include: Istanbul’s elegant Blue Mosque; Swallow’s Nest Castle in Yalta; the intriguing Potemkin Steps in Odessa; Sevastopol’s beautiful beaches; and medieval Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its impressive collection of historic churches.

Pride of the Aegean: Explore the breadth of the Aegean Sea, from the southernmost azure tip of Crete to the soaring spires of Istanbul, in one comprehensive nine-day sailing departing from Athens, Greece or Istanbul, Turkey on June 4, and 27; August 30; September 15 and 24; and October 3, 12, and 21, 2014. Star Pride visits Monemvasia, Chania, Santorini, and Rhodes, Greece; and Bodrum, Kusadasi, and Cesme, Turkey. Highlights include: Chania’s beautiful Venetian mansions and churches; the whitewashed buildings and blue domes of Santorini; the ancient Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes; Cesme’s 14th century Genoese castle, as well as the marble, myths, and magic of Athens and Istanbul’s world-famous Grand Bazaar.

Riviera Enchantment: Discover the glamour, the enchantment, the excitement, and the exquisite élan of the world's most famous yachting playgrounds on this seven-day voyage roundtrip from Rome, Italy departing May 21; and August 6, 2014. Rome sets the stage for this exciting cruise which visits some of the world’s most glamorous ports along the French Riviera including Cannes, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Portoferraio, Portofino, and Portovenere, Italy. For an added thrill, guests sailing on the May 21 departure can add Windstar’s Grand Prix Cruise Package and experience the perfect combination of luxury cruising and Formula One racing.

Venetian Passageways: Uncover the wonders of Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic, as Windstar overnights in this magical city on this nine-day voyage along the ancient trade routes through the narrow Corinth Canal, to the ancient oracle of Delphi, and into the majestic fjords of Montenegro. Star Pride departs July 6; and August 21, 2014 from Athens, Greece or Venice, Italy visiting Hydra, Corinth Canal, Delphi/Itea, and Zakynthos, Greece; Butrint, Albania; Kotor, Montenegro; and Dubrovnik and Hvar, Croatia.

Also new for 2014, is Windstar’s Sicilian Splendors voyage. Sail around the Isle of Sicily and discover wonders from the ruins of Pompeii and Capri’s Blue Grotto to Baroque marvels and the breathtaking beauty of the Amalfi Coast with this 10-day sailing roundtrip from Rome, Italy departing May 11, 2014. This new 2014 voyage visits five new ports including Catania, Porto Empedocle, and Trapani, Italy; and Valletta and Gozo, Malta; as well as Lipari (Sicily), Sorrento, and Capri, Italy, and also spends one romantic night at sea. Highlights include: the ancient city of Syracuse in Catania; historic tapestries and armor in Valletta’s Palazzo Parisio; and some of the world’s best-preserved Greek ruins at the Valley of the Temples in Porto Empedocle.

In addition, Star Pride will offer many Windstar favorites including:

Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast: Discover the magic of Venice, the grandeur of Rome and the captivating island of Capri before cruising the privileged waters of the Ionian Sea with visits to the breathtaking fjords of Montenegro and the sundrenched shores of Croatia on this eight-day cruise departing from Rome or Venice on July 15 and August 13, 2014.

Glitter & Glam of the Rivieras: From the sparkling cities of Marseille and Portofino to the chic style of Monaco and Cannes, Star Pride explores the legendary ports of the world’s most privileged yachts on this seven-day voyage departing from Rome or Barcelona on July 23 and 30, 2014.

Enchanting Greece & the Amalfi Coast: This seven-day cruise departing May 28, 2014, explores the idyllic islands, charming cobbled villages, spectacular scenery, and intriguing history of the heart of the Mediterranean.

Star Pride, with a guest capacity of 212 in 106 suites, will undergo several upgrades and changes in styling and décor to align with Windstar’s brand. Star Pride will showcase many signature Windstar experiences, including the line’s famous Sail Away party, Yacht Deck Barbecue gala and Open Bridge policy.

Mein Schiff 3 to improve energy efficiency by about 30%

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 May 2013 17 May 2013

Mein Schiff 3, the first of two 97,000 gross ton cruise liners on order by TUI Cruises in Hamburg, Germany at STX Finland in Turku, will be about 30% more energy efficient than existing ships of the same size, the cruise line said in a statement.

The use of energy on board will have a direct effect on fuel consumption and in order to reduce this plus emissions from the new vessel that will enter service next year, a raft of energy saving measures will be introduced. Exhaust heart from the engines will be used to heat water; the air conditioning plant is more efficient than traditionally and a modern energy management system will be used to keep consumption and emissions at a bay.

TUI Cruises is a joint venture of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), the world's second largest cruise shipping group, and TUI AG, the German tour operator that also owns Hapag-lloyd Kreuzfahrten.

The statement came only a few weeks after a senior Carnival Corp & plc group official had stated that the 141,000 gross ton newbuilding on order for P&O Cruises in the UK would offer 25% more capacity and about 30% less fuel consumption than the existing seven ships of the Southampton based company.

Regent Seven Seas makes itinerary changes for fall 2014

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 May 2013 16 May 2013

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced changes to its Fall 2014 itineraries for Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager. The company launched 10 new cruises with expanded itineraries that include cruises to sought-after destinations such as Tahiti and South Africa. It has been four years since a Regent ship called in South Africa and almost three years since one of its ships visited Tahiti.

“We continually speak with our guests and travel agent partners looking for feedback on our itineraries and product offerings. I recently sailed on Seven Seas Mariner and heard from several loyal guests of their desire for expanded voyages to the South Pacific and Southern Africa,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “To meet our guests’ wishes, we have shortened the 2014 Mediterranean season to feature new voyages to these exciting destinations.”

The new sailings on Seven Seas Mariner include an 18-day Los Angeles to Papeete TransPacific cruise, a 10-day round-trip Papeete voyage and a 16-night Papeete to Auckland cruise. This will be the first time in the company’s history that Seven Seas Mariner will conduct a turnaround in Tahiti.

For the Seven Seas Voyager, the company added a 30-day Dubai to Cape Town cruise where guests will enjoy breathtaking scenery, discover big game on guided safari tours, and relax on luxurious beaches. This exciting itinerary includes overnight calls in Mumbai, India; Male, Maldives; Port Victoria, Seychelles; and Cape Town, South Africa with visits to Mombasa, Kenya; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Maputo, Mozambique; and Richard’s Bay and Durban, South Africa.

The company has also created a number of Mediterranean sailings that have a similar itinerary as previously offered.

Seven Seas Mariner’s previously-scheduled Mediterranean cruises from September 23 to December 18, 2014 as well as Seven Seas Voyager’s October 21 to November 28, 2014 cruises have been cancelled to allow for the new cruises. Guests on the previously-scheduled sailings are being notified and assisted with re-booking their voyages.

Mein Schiff 1 godmother to celebrate fourth anniversary of ship with gala concert

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 May 2013 16 May 2013

Ina Muller, the German singer and television presenter that acted as godmother of Mein Schiff 1 of TUI Cruises four years ago, will celebrate the anniversary of the event on board the ship with a gala concert.

On 21 May, Muller and the pianist Joja Wednt will give a gala concert on board the ship on a cruise around Britain. “ I will be there next year too and cut the birthday cake,” Muller said in a statement. This year, each passenger can look forward to receiving a small present and a sliced of the cake.

Muller named the ship in Hamburg on 15 May 2009.

Keel laid for largest P&O Cruises’ ship at Monfalcone

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 May 2013 15 May 2013

A ceremony to mark the keel laying of the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market took place today at the Monfalcone shipyard of Fincantieri near Trieste, Italy. The 141,000-ton cruise ship will enter service in 2015.

The ship is based on the same platform as Royal Princess and Regal Princess of sister company Princess cruises, but its external appearance and interior will be different to the two ships.

This next-generation ship will offer a stylish and innovative new design, with an unprecedented number of passenger facilities together with many iconic signatures of the P&O Cruises brand, the company said in a statement.

It will offer the “best of the best”, combining favourite classic features of ships such as Oriana and Aurora, the wide choice and variety of Ventura and Azura and a host of new concepts which will include some yet-to-be-announced “sophisticated wows”.

In delivering the ultimate P&O Cruises experience, the ship will be designed to attract many thousands of newcomers and will equally resonate with existing passengers by delivering the sense of P&O-ness for which the brand is held in such high regard. At the same time, the ship will be designed to deliver much greater levels of operational and environmental efficiency.

The keel laying will involve the placement in the dry dock of the first section of the ship’s hull. This section is made up of 6 pre-manufactured blocks, weighs 408 tons and is fitted with 214 tons of pipes, cables, insulation and other equipment. The ceremony follows an intensive period of design and development. 74 sections will be used in the construction of the ship.

In a speech Carnival UK CEO David Dingle said: “Each of our new ships has been exclusively designed for the British market. We have ensured that each anticipates the subtly changing trends in what British passengers expect from their cruise holiday – and is equipped to meet those expectations for many years to come. Our success in adapting to the market’s changing needs is why our ships continue to fill and why the whole cruise sector ultimately continues to buck any downward trend. We cannot wait to see this ship finished and underway”.