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MSC Euribia to sail world first net zero greenhouse gas emissions cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 May 2023 25 May 2023

The Cruise Division of MSC Group next week will operate the industry’s first net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage when its latest MSC Cruises flagship, the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered MSC Euribia, leaves its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France – where she is currently being built – on the way to her naming ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The new ship, the 22nd vessel to join MSC Cruises’ fleet, will sail for four days from Saint-Nazaire to Copenhagen and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions to demonstrate that net zero cruising is possible today. MSC Euribia will depart the French port on 3 June and is scheduled to arrive in the Danish city on 7 June.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, said: “This industry-first net zero gas emissions voyage of our latest flagship MSC Euribia heralds another significant step on our decarbonisation journey and demonstrates more than anything the extent of our commitment.”

MSC Cruises purchased 400 tonnes of bio-LNG to show its commitment to the deployment of drop-in renewable fuels and energy transition measures towards the pioneering net zero gas emissions voyage. The line is the industry’s first deep sea ocean cruise operator to buy bio-LNG as a fuel source that has significant lifecycle emissions reductions.

Vago continued: “We cannot do this alone, however. Given the absolute importance of alternative fuels for our industry as well as for other sectors across civil society to achieve decarbonization, we all need to work together to increase their availability at scale. Our purchase of bio-LNG will send a clear and meaningful signal to the market that there is demand from cruise lines and the broader maritime industry for cleaner fuels, but we need governments, producers and end-users to collaborate and scale-up the availability of these much-needed and new sources of power.”

The net zero sailing will utilise bio-LNG using a mass-balance system, the most environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of renewable biogas. The entire supply chain will be fully compliant with the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, commonly known as RED II, and each individual batch of the total bio-LNG produced has been certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.

Michele Francioni, SVP, MSC Cruises, added, “MSC Euribia’s first voyage will be an incredible feat and represents years of commitment and determination. It should prove that we have the capability to operate on a net zero greenhouse gas emissions basis with existing ship technology.

“This is just the beginning. We are committed to this transition and putting in place everything we can do to facilitate it. It cannot be done without alternative fuels such as bio-LNG, e-LNG, green hydrogen or green methanol being made widely available at scale to fully realise the vision of net zero cruising.”

MSC Cruises is being supported by Nordic energy company Gasum for the net zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage, a leading producer of biogas and processor of biodegradable waste fractions in the Nordic region.

The speed and itinerary of MSC Euribia’s maiden voyage has been designed specifically to optimise the configuration and loads of the engines to minimise fuel consumption. Dedicated energy efficiency specialists from both MSC Cruises and the ship’s constructor Chantiers de L’Atlantique will be on board the net zero sailing to monitor and optimise every aspect of this journey. They will work with the Master of the Vessel Captain Stefano Battinelli and MSC Euribia’s Chief Engineer, Pasquale Mastellone.

MSC Cruises’ shore-based energy efficiency experts based in London will continuously monitor and optimise all systems on board to minimise energy demand, identify additional opportunities to improve energy efficiency in real-time, while maintaining high comfort for all guests on board.

This will include a range of measures from the configuration of the engines down to the speed of individual air-conditioning fans in guest cabins, together with the itinerary and speed optimisation.

All of the combined initiatives will save energy to reduce fuel consumption.

MSC Cruises’ newbuilds are fuel flexible ships that can accommodate a variety of renewable fuels both available today and expected in the future. The use of fossil LNG already achieves up to a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional marine fuels, and virtually eliminates all sulphur oxide and particulate emissions while also reducing nitrogen oxides by 85 per cent.

Allianz Partners reveals American travel to surge 55% this summer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 May 2023 19 May 2023

According to travel insurance provider Allianz Partners’ annual Top 10 Summer European Destinations review, the number of Americans traveling to Europe will increase dramatically this year, rising by 55% over last year’s summer season.

The travel protection and assistance company analyzed flight itineraries* for trips of five to eight days in length between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It found that the reigning number one destination, London, England, will welcome 25% of this year’s bookings, with Paris, France (#2) and Dublin, Ireland (#3) rounding out the top three most popular vacation spots across the pond.

It’s been 70 years since Dean Martin sang about the world’s affinity for Italy in his popular “That’s Amoré,” and travelers continue to favor the Old Country for its food, wine, art and architecture. Capital city Rome inched up a spot to #4 and fashion-forward Milan moved into the Top 10 with its first appearance since the survey began in 2015. The resurgence of travel to Milan also knocked off the consistently popular Barcelona, Spain, for the first time in the survey’s history. Other notable moves for 2023 included Amsterdam, Netherlands, jumping two positions year over year to #8 while Athens, Greece, climbed up one spot to #7.

The new statistics follow last year’s 600% increase in American travel to Europe from 2021 to 2022, making it clear that revisiting European favorites and new bucket list destinations after years of restrictions will remain a priority when mapping out memorable summer travel plans.

“Last year, we saw a major increase in American travel to Europe and this summer indicates even higher demand, so it’s more important than ever to plan for a busy summer travel season,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “From booking your dream hotel room with incredible views, to locking down flight schedules, planning ahead is key, and so is considering travel insurance to protect your travel investment from covered trip cancellations, interruptions, delays and medical emergencies.”

The survey also reviewed planned trip length, finding that 80% of Americans heading to Europe this summer will spend seven days on vacation with 11% planning for eight days away from home.

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers.

Carnival Venezia to homeport in Port Canaveral for winter 2024-2025

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 May 2023 17 May 2023

As Carnival Cruise Line prepares to debut its new ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style’ experiences on its latest addition to the fleet, Carnival Venezia, the cruise line is opening future sailings for the ship that include a series of departures from Port Canaveral, Fla. as the ship heads south for winter of 2024-25 like millions of other Northeasterners, before returning to New York in the spring of 2025.

“The sailings we’re opening today will allow us to share this new signature fun with more guests and bring another truly dynamic offering to one of our most popular homeports,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival Venezia’s seasonal operation in Port Canaveral will bring our deployment there to five vessels and give our valued Carnival guests another great option when sailing from Central Florida.”

Carnival Venezia will reposition from New York with a 12-Day Southern Caribbean Carnival Journeys Cruise that departs on Dec. 6, 2024 and visits St. Thomas; St. Croix; Aruba; Curacao and Grand Turk and arrives to Port Canaveral on Dec. 18, 2024. The ship will embark its first guests from Port Canaveral on the same day and depart for a four-day Bahamas cruise, visiting Nassau and Freeport, to kick off its winter series. It will then operate 15 seven-day cruises, rotating itineraries and visiting a variety of popular destinations, as well as sailing two special 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises. After its seasonal deployment in Florida, the ship will return to New York in the spring of 2025.

The 5,000-guest Carnival Venezia will soon embark its first guests on a 15-day Carnival Journeys transatlantic sailing May 29, 2023 from Barcelona and arrive to her new home at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City. The ship’s first cruise from New York, a four-day cruise to Bermuda, is set for June 15, 2023. From its New York homeport through December 2024, the ship will operate 10 different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries featuring visits to 25 ports across 14 countries.

Carnival Venezia is currently undergoing an enhancement project in Spain and will be the first ship to showcase ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style.’ It will debut a slate of fun concepts and experiences influenced by the ship’s Italian design, since it was originally built under Carnival’s sister brand, Costa Cruises, and boasts beautiful architectural features inspired by Venice, Italy that make the ship a unique addition to the Carnival fleet. Guests will find the same warm hospitality on Carnival Venezia that Carnival is known for fleetwide.

Guests will also find many Carnival mainstays they know and love on board, including Guy Fieri’s Guy’s Burger Joint, the steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki and the Chef’s Table, along with Lido Marketplace, Seafood Shack and Pizzeria del Capitano, Piano Bar 88 and Heroes Tribute Lounge. In addition, the ship will bring several new dining and beverage offerings into the fleet, including the new specialty restaurant, “Il Viaggio,” which promises a culinary journey with a menu curated to offer guests the best regional dishes and drinks from several regions of Italy. Guests can also expect the high-energy entertainment they know and love fleetwide on board Carnival Venezia, with several Playlist Production shows set to take the stage and special programming developed for children and families.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s second ship enters service

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 May 2023 17 May 2023

Ambassador Cruise Line, the UK based company that offers cruises from a range of regional ports in the country, has introduced its second ship, the 41,123 gross ton Ambition.

The ship, which had started life in 1999 Mistral of the now defunct Festival Cruises, sailed on its first cruise for the British company from Newcastle on 12 May.

“The launch of Ambition will see Ambassador welcome guests onboard from eight different UK departure ports for the first time, enabling more of the population to enjoy the convenience of a no-fly cruise holiday. In addition to the cruise line’s home port of London Tilbury, guests from Newcastle Tyne, Dundee, Edinburgh Leith, Falmouth, Liverpool, Bristol and Belfast will now be able enjoy a range of exciting itineraries from a port that’s close to home,” the company said in a statement.

The company also operates the 70,285 gross ton Ambiance, which was built as Regal Princess for Princess Cruises in 1991. Ambassador Cruise Line introduced the ship last year in the UK.

Image: Ambition at sea. Photo credit: Ambassador Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean returns to China, deploys new ship to Singapore

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023

Royal Caribbean International has set the date for its return to China in April 2024 with Spectrum of the Seas, sailing from Shanghai. Holidaymakers can make memories with family and friends on 4- and 5-night cruises to a combination of popular getaway destinations like Fukuoka, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Osaka, and Tokyo, Japan. Spectrum will also offer eight sailings from Hong Kong, starting in December 2024, to places such as Ishigaki and Miyazaki, Japan; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, China; and Nha Trang, Vietnam.

From one exciting debut to the next: The cruise line’s Anthem of the Seas will sail in Asia for the first time from Singapore in late 2024. Anthem features many of the signature favourites travellers know and love as well as a host of new ways for every type of holidaymaker to experience adventure.

“This is the moment we – along with Chinese holidaymakers – have been waiting for. Our return to China is an exciting milestone that could only be marked with Spectrum of the Seas, which became a household name with Chinese families and travellers alike when it debuted in Shanghai as the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean ship in 2019,” said Bert Hernandez, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean International. “We thank the government of China for establishing a pathway forward and continue to be committed to expanding the cruise industry in a region we have sailed from for more than a decade. This has also opened up a world of opportunities to expand the variety of holidays in Asia, as another award-winning ship sets sail in the region with the introduction of Anthem of the Seas in Singapore.”

Spectrum of the Seas from Shanghai – April 2024

Specially designed for Asia and holidaymakers of all ages, Spectrum features an array of restaurants with regionally inspired menus and entertainment, like Hot Pot, Teppanyaki, Sichuan Red, karaoke lounge Star Moment, and original productions like Showgirls at the Royal Theater. Alongside the familiar comforts is a lineup of adventures only on Royal Caribbean, including skydiving on the RipCord by iFly, scaling more than 90 metres above the ocean on the North Star all-glass observation capsule and The Effectors in the Royal Theater, the cutting-edge, transformative venue that comes alive with performers, robots and more.

And when it comes to luxury, the ship’s exclusive suite enclave has it covered with everything from a two-level, 2,809-square-foot Ultimate Family Suite, featuring an in-suite slide and accommodating up to 11 guests for the ultimate multi-gen family vacation, to private dining, shopping and more.

Anthem of the Seas from Singapore – Late 2024

On Anthem, travellers can look forward to days of play with a variety of experiences to choose from. From lounges and bars to chill at after sunset, such as live music at Latin-themed club Boleros and Brass & Bock – the crowd favourite English pub with a live guitarist and pints of all kinds. Also on deck is showstopping entertainment and thrills, including Olivier Award-winning musical phenomenon We Will Rock You – featuring a score of killer Queen anthems – and SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, where guests can enjoy timeless thills like bumper cars. On the menu is a variety of restaurants and spots to grab a bite, such as Solarium Bistro with its Mediterranean-inspired flavours, American shakes, burgers and more at retro-themed Johnny Rockets; and Cafe Promenade, the all-day cafe. Popular dining concepts also return to the region, including classic American steakhouse Chops Grille, fresh Japanese fare at Izumi and whimsical dishes designed for all the senses at Wonderland.

Holidaymakers can soon mark their calendars and book their holiday to far-flung destinations on Spectrum or Anthem at Royal Caribbean’s website in the coming weeks.