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Viking's newest Nile River ship named in Aswan

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 August 2023 24 August 2023

Viking has named its newest river ship, the Viking Aton, with a special celebration in Aswan, Egypt, on August 19. The ship’s ceremonial godfather, Richard Riveire, designer of Viking’s award-winning river, ocean and expedition vessels and founding Principal of internationally acclaimed interior design firm Rottet Studio, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship – an evolution of the naval tradition dating back to thousands of years. The Viking Aton, an identical sister ship of the Viking Osiris, is a state-of-the-art vessel specifically built to navigate the Nile and will sail Viking’s popular Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

“Today, we are pleased to welcome Viking Aton to our growing fleet. Together with her sister ship, the Viking Osiris, they are the newest and most elegant vessels on the Nile, by far,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “With extraordinarily strong interest in Egypt among our guests, we are proud to bring another state-of-the-art vessel to this region, and we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the country’s rich cultural treasures. I am also thankful to my friend, Richard Riveire, for his tremendous contributions to Viking, including the design of this new vessel and our other award-winning river, ocean and expedition ships.”

“It is an incredible honor to be the godfather of the Viking Aton and to celebrate the growing Viking fleet,” said Richard Riveire. “For well over a decade, I have been proud to work alongside Tor, Karine and the Viking team to help design how the Viking brand comes to life on board. Together, we share the belief that the design of each Viking ship should showcase the destination, wherever you may be in the world.”

Sea Cloud Cruises sets sail for North America growth

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 August 2023 22 August 2023

Sea Cloud Cruises, one of the world's most storied names in cruise travel, is adding senior leadership in North America dedicated to growing the market. The company announced today that Mirell Reyes has been appointed to Sea Cloud Cruises’ executive team as president, overseeing all sales, marketing, and communications in North America. Joining her is Kevin Smith as vice president of sales, focused on consortia, travel advisors, groups, and new charter partnerships for the brand. Sea Cloud Cruises US will operate out of South Florida.

“The Sea Cloud experience is one steeped in history, sustainability and luxurious European service, which resonates with today’s traveler,” said Sea Cloud Cruises US CEO Daniel Schaefer. “Mirell’s and Kevin’s vast cruise knowledge and background in the luxury high-end market combined with their strong industry relationships, will play a major role in growing the Americas.”

For over 20 years Reyes has built a career in travel and hospitality, most recently as president of Star Clippers Americas where she also held the role of vice president of sales for the German speaking markets. Her extensive career includes serving as executive director of sales and marketing for TUI Leisure Travel, with suppliers including Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Cunard Line and Holland America offering tailor-made voyages to high-net-worth individuals.

“I am honored to take on the role of bringing and elevating the storied Sea Cloud brand to North America, introducing our iconic Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II and newest ship Sea Cloud Spirit to an audience of discerning travelers seeking a truly unique and luxury sailing journey,” shared Sea Cloud Cruises president Mirell Reyes.

Kevin Smith brings over 15 years of experience to Sea Cloud Cruises, most recently leading sales efforts for American Queen Voyages as vice president of sales. His career also includes sales positions with luxury cruise brands including AmaWaterways River Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

“The legendary Sea Cloud Cruises fleet and service level is truly unmatched, and I look forward to building strong partnerships with our trade community to create memorable experiences for their well-traveled guests,” said Kevin Smith, vice president sales for Sea Cloud Cruises.

Riverside Luxury Cruises christens Riverside Ravel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 August 2023 18 August 2023

Riverside Luxury Cruises announced that on August 16th in the medieval town of Viviers, France, Anouchka Gerlach christened the Riverside Ravel in a festive ceremony ahead of its inaugural sailing on the Rhône River.

This is the second ship to launch for Riverside Luxury Cruises, a Hamburg-based company founded by siblings Anouchka and Gregor Gerlach in late 2022. The Riverside Ravel will tour the Rhône River between Lyon and Arles and similar to Riverside Mozart, who is sailing the Danube this season, will continue to set a new standard in luxury river cruising. Riverside Ravel will provide guests with exemplary food and beverage, service, excursions, and wellness offerings, in addition to its elegant all-suite accommodations and a butler service for all guests.

"We are delighted that with the launch of Riverside Ravel we can now offer our guests the French way of life. The cuisine is of course tailored to the region, and ashore our crew has prepared a variety of special experiences," said Anouchka Gerlach, co-founder of Riverside Luxury Cruises.

Now available for bookings, Riverside Luxury Cruises is offering attractive inaugural pricing, competitive commissions (21% on all 2023 sailings) and special introductory FAM rates for travel advisors.

Celebrity Cruises to homeport Celebrity Equinox in Port Canaveral beginning in November 2024

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 August 2023 15 August 2023

Celebrity Cruises has chosen Port Canaveral to homeport its Celebrity Equinox to expand the brand’s sailings to the Caribbean starting December 3, 2024, through April 19, 2025. Celebrity Cruises is the seventh major cruise line to choose Port Canaveral as its homeport, underscoring the Port’s status as the world’s busiest cruise Port.

"We are thrilled to welcome Celebrity Cruises as our new partner and honored to be part of their Caribbean expansion plans,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “The demand for Celebrity Cruise sailings from our Port has been growing. Now, with Celebrity Equinox homeported here, there are great opportunities for even more cruise travelers to experience the cruise line’s high-quality experience, while experiencing the comfort and ease of travel provided by our Port.”

The Celebrity Equinox will offer 20 new itineraries sailing from Port Canaveral spanning 7-nights to sought-after destinations like The Bahamas, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, San Juan, and St. Maarten. Just in time for the Spring Break season, two sailings on March 1st and March 15th, 2025, will include stops at their private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

“We are so excited to unveil this new program. It provides our guests with more options to experience the natural beauty of the Caribbean, which is elevated by our personalized experiences on board,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. “As part of this expansion, we are thrilled to add Port Canaveral to our list of home ports – it is a perfect market to reach a wide mix of both in- and out-of-state travelers looking for fun in the Caribbean sun.”

Celebrity Equinox is 1,041 feet long, 122,000 gross tons and features 13 decks, 1,426 staterooms and accommodates 2,850 passengers. An award-winning Solstice class ship Celebrity Equinox underwent a multi-million-dollar refresh in 2019, introducing elevated design concepts, and an all-new The Retreat experience including a redesigned private indoor lounge, sundeck, and fine-dining restaurant – all of which are exclusive to suite guests.

Throughout the ship, vacationers enjoy ten exceptional dining and cocktail options, including craft beer and comfort food in the new Craft Social, experience pure bliss at the Spa, or feel the grass beneath their feet while enjoying an outdoor movie, reading a book, or sunbathing at the relaxing Lawn Club.

Gotlandsbolaget and Viking Line form joint venture

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 August 2023 11 August 2023

Viking Line and Gotlandsbolaget (Gotland Company) are to form a joint venture entrusted with the task of developing and providing cruises with the cruise ship Birka Stockholm between Stockholm–Mariehamn and Stockholm–Mariehamn–Visby. Gotlandsbolaget acquired Birka Stockholm in March 2023 for EUR 38 million and has now agreed to sell 50% of the vessel to Viking Line for EUR 19 million.

The two venerable Scandinavian shipping companies with roots in two important island communities – Gotland and Åland – will contribute their specialist knowledge to the launch in the spring of 2024 of cruise service from Stockholm to Mariehamn and Visby and possibly also destination cruises in the Baltic Sea region. Viking Cinderella, which currently provides cruise service from Stockholm to Mariehamn, will be moved to the Helsinki–Mariehamn–Stockholm route during the spring of 2024. The purchase price for Viking Line’s share in the vessel is 19 million euros, which is being funded by Viking Line’s cash holdings.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with a successful shipping company like Gotlandsbolaget, which we have great respect for. We believe our joint contribution to this service will further enhance the cruise product offered from Stockholm," says Jan Hanses, CEO of Viking Line.

"We are working to also expand Gotlandsbolaget’s cruise travel offering as a complement to our service to Gotland and our other offerings, and what partner can be better at doing this than Viking Line, with its extensive experience from cruises in the Baltic Sea. We see this collaboration as a fantastic opportunity that utilizes the experience and skills of both Gotlandsbolaget and Viking Line," says Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotlandsbolaget.

The new company will entail a major investment in cruise travel on the Baltic Sea, and planning is now under way to launch operations and offer an attractive new product with service starting in the spring of 2024. The initial contract for the partnership runs for five years with the possibility of extension.

The completion of this business transaction and the start-up of the new joint venture are contingent on the approval of the Swedish Competition Authority. The new company will be headquartered in Stockholm and run under the management of CEO Susanne Kaarnimo-Knight.