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Carnival Jubilee scheduled to leave Papenburg on October 30

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 October 2023 29 October 2023

Meyer Werft's newest cruise ship, the Carnival Jubilee, is scheduled to leave Papenburg on Monday 30 October 2023 and will be transferred to Eemshaven (Netherlands) on the river Ems. Arrival in Eemshaven is scheduled for early Tuesday morning, October 31. After the technical and nautical trials, the Carnival Jubilee will set course for Eemshaven again.

The Carnival Jubilee is the first cruise ship built in Germany for Carnival Cruise Line. Within the Meyer Group, it is also the third ship of the Excel class: the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku already delivered the Mardi Gras in 2020, followed by the Carnival Celebration in 2022. All three ships are equipped with low-emission LNG. The highlight for passengers is a roller coaster on board for the first time.

The following schedule applies to the Ems conveyance, which may be postponed at short notice according to weather and tidal conditions:

Monday, October 30, 2023

from approx. 09:30am Ship in waiting position (Papenburg)

approx. 12:00pm Passing the dock lock (Papenburg)

approx. 4:35pm Passing the Friesenbrücke (Weener)

approx. 7:45pm Passing the Jann-Berghaus-Bridge (Leer)

approx. 11.15pm Arrival at the Ems barrage (Gandersum)

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

approx. 01:30am Passing Emssperrwerk

approx. 03:15am Passing Emden

All information is subject to wind and weather conditions, water levels and therefore without guarantee. Time shifts are also possible at short notice!

Carnival Jubilee will sail the Ems towards the North Sea again backwards and with the support of two tugs. This way of transfer has proven to be successful due to the better maneuverability.

The transfer of the ship will again be carried out by the team of the pilot brotherhood Emden. The Ems pilots have been performing the maneuvers for many years. The team uses state-of-the-art technology to prepare for a realistic simulation of the Ems river passage in Wageningen (Netherlands).

The passage of Carnival Jubilee down the Ems will take place with the support of the Ems barrage. The duration of the passage will always be kept as short as possible so as not to interfere with navigation on the Ems.

Carnival Freedom returns to service with new look – and new funnel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 October 2023 29 October 2023

Once again sporting an iconic winged funnel, Carnival Freedom marked its return to service by welcoming guests on board in Barcelona, Spain for a 14-day transatlantic voyage to its homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla. The ship underwent an extensive refurbishment that included the installation of the new funnel, the addition of the signature Carnival red, white and blue hull livery and other enhancements.

Earlier this month, the 2,980-guest ship entered its 16-day dry dock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. The ship’s vibrant transformation is a significant milestone for the shipyard. While the yard’s team members have worked on other projects across the fleet, this is the first time they have designed and manufactured a Carnival funnel.

Among the other enhancements is a newly installed Heroes Tribute Bar, which is an expanding venue across the Carnival fleet and honors military veterans and active-duty service members. Carnival Freedom now also features a Dreams Studio, where guests can capture memories that become keepsakes from their cruise with the help of Carnival’s photography staff. Some of the other work includes an expansion to the ship’s casino, and renovations and upgrades across the ship’s staterooms and public areas.

Carnival Freedom’s two-week-long transatlantic Carnival Journeys cruise from Spain is offering guests an unforgettable journey that includes visits to Valencia, Malaga and Las Palmas, Spain as well as Bermuda. From Port Canaveral, the ship offers four- and five-day sailings to destinations in The Bahamas, such as Nassau and Princess Cays, as well as other Caribbean destinations, including Grand Turk. Many new itineraries were recently opened for the ship, and among them are sailings that feature Carnival’s upcoming exclusive destination, Celebration Key, as a port of call beginning in 2025.

Rauma shipyard celebrates the launch and christening of Spirit of Tasmania IV

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 October 2023 27 October 2023

Today, Rauma shipyard celebrated the launch and christening of 48,000 gross ton Spirit of Tasmania IV, a vessel Rauma Marine Constructions is building for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company. The ship is the first of two identical car and passenger ferries that will replace similarly Finnish-built sister ships.

The new vessels will operate on an extremely challenging route across the Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania. The ferries have been specially designed to undertake this specific route.

The Spirit of Tasmania IV was christened at the RMC shipyard. The vessel’s godmother is Deborah Grainger from Australia. The christening was done using locally produced sparkling wine from Tasmania, Jansz Vintage Cuvee.

The keel laying of the newly launched Spirit of Tasmania IV was celebrated at Rauma shipyard exactly one year ago in October 2022. The production of the vessel’s sister ship, Spirit of Tasmania V, was celebrated with a traditional steel cutting ceremony in December 2022.

“We are excited to start a new phase in the construction of the vessel as the work shifts from building the ship’s hull to interior work and systems implementation. This also means that we are able to start constructing the second vessel’s hull in the construction pool," says Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager of Spirit of Tasmania at RMC.

After the launch, the work will shift from hull construction to equipment assembly and interior work. The focus will be on finishing plumbing and electrics as well as interior design for the hotel area. Furthermore, the work around the vessel’s engine room and car deck will continue. The equipment assembly phase will continue with the implementation of various systems, culminating in sea trials conducted before the handing out of the vessel.

TT-Line Company is a significant player in maritime transport between mainland Australia and Tasmania, and the large-scale project is the biggest individual foreign sale between Australia and Finland. The company employs over 600 people and transports over 450,000 passengers annually. Spirit of Tasmania is widely recognised for its contribution to the Australian tourism industry and for fostering economic development by providing world-class passenger and freight services.

RMC building three vessels side by side

The construction of the two vessels will create a total of around 3,500 person-years’ worth of employment at the Rauma shipyard between 2021 and 2024. Rauma shipyard will soon see the construction of three ships simultaneously as the construction of the first multi-role corvettes for the Finnish Navy will begin on 30 October 2023. The project comprises four vessels in total. The project will be finished in its entirety by 2029, and its direct impact on employment in Finland is approximately 3,600 person-years.

Entirely domestically owned, RMC has an orderbook worth approximately EUR 1.2 billion that extends all the way to the year 2028.

Before the Spirit of Tasmania vessels, RMC has built several technologically advanced commercial vessels. Last year, RMC handed over to Tallink Silja the energy-efficient car and passenger ferry MyStar that operates the route between Tallinn, Estonia, and Helsinki, Finland. In 2021, RMC handed over to Wasaline the car and passenger ferry Aurora Botnia which has won international awards for its sustainability.

“We at Rauma work every day to enhance our expertise in shipbuilding, striving to become stronger and more modern,” says Mika Nieminen, CEO and President of RMC.

Windstar replaces Middle East with winter Mediterranean sailings

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 October 2023 27 October 2023

Windstar Cruises has announced its new winter and holiday sailing itineraries from December 2023 to April 2024, offering travelers the opportunity to discover iconic ports like Barcelona, Nice, Florence/Livorno , Marseille, and Rome in an entirely different light aboard the all-suite, 312-guest, Star Legend.

"The ship was originally scheduled to sail in the Middle East. We’ve postponed our launch in that region to begin in November 2024,” said Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog. "With a ship in the Mediterranean, we saw an opportunity to offer guests a legendary winter season in Europe. Our small ships and intimate atmosphere provide a truly unique way to explore Europe's winter wonderlands, while enjoying the magic of the season and the comforts and casual luxury that Windstar is known for."

While the allure of summer in the Mediterranean is undeniable, the quieter, more intimate charm of the winter months offers an exclusive perspective on these timeless destinations. These seven-night itineraries have been carefully designed for guests to take advantage of fewer crowds and easier access to museums, cultural events, historical landmarks, as well as local cuisine and genuine engagement with locals. The itineraries offer guests a blend of cultural exploration and festive celebrations that can only be enjoyed during the winter season through Spring.

New weeklong cruises in the Mediterranean will be offered from December 2023 through April 2024. Sixteen cruises sail between Rome and Barcelona (or reverse) visiting Florence & Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Marseille, France with overnights in the iconic cities of Rome, Barcelona and Monte Carlo. The last of the new Mediterranean series is an 8-night cruise from Rome to Athens visiting the Amalfi Coast and Greece. A Christmas holiday sailing can be booked as a 8- or 9-day cruise, the latter including New Year’s Eve.

Travelers can participate in some of Europe’s most magical winter experiences including holiday markets and ice skating in Nice, France; Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Trevi Fountain excursions in Rome during the holidays; and Florence’s spectacular Light Festival, among many other once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Guests will also have several extraordinary holiday opportunities including the option to celebrate Christmas eve and day in Rome; ring in the New Year in Barcelona; spend Valentine’s Day in Nice; or enjoy Carnevale celebrations in both Spain and Italy at the end of February.

The schedule change has presented Windstar with the opportunity to position its all-suite Star Legend in Cannes in early December to coincide with the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) conference. Windstar executives including Prelog, Vice President of Sales Dianna Rom, and Chief Commercial Officer Janet Bava will be on hand to showcase to those in attendance the ship’s renovation completed as part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative and with an opportunity to sail on a 2-night cruise to Rome after the event. For travel partners and media interested in touring or sailing, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Windstar Cruises’ new winter sailings will be ready for purchase on November 6, 2023.

MSC Cruises updates winter 2023-24 itineraries

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 October 2023 27 October 2023

MSC Cruises has cancelled MSC Orchestra full winter schedule, which consisted of sailing in the Red Sea from November 8, 2023 to April 17, 2024, due to the proximity of some ports of call to Israel as well as the number of restrictions in the bordering countries that would have adversely affected passengers’ travel experiences.

The line is also making changes to some of its other itineraries to ensure the safety of guests and crew, in light of the current geopolitical situation, travel restrictions issued by local authorities in certain destinations, and various government advisories against travel to certain areas.

MSC Sinfonia’s winter schedule has also been cancelled from November 12, 2023 to April 15, 2024, as the ship’s itinerary was focused on Haifa, Israel. MSC Cruises has also made some minor changes to the Grand Voyages itineraries for MSC Virtuosa, MSC Opera and MSC Splendida, as well as two 11-night sailings on MSC Armonia.
Guests affected by the itinerary changes can move their cruise to an alternative ship and itinerary of a similar length. They can also request a full refund.

The safety of guests and crew is always MSC Cruises’ top priority. As this is an evolving situation, the line will continue to monitor the situation and modify ship itineraries if necessary.