More News

Norwegian Cruise Line to expand its South Africa deployment in winter 2024

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 January 2023 26 January 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line celebrates a new milestone today having successfully concluded its inaugural season sailing from Cape Town, South Africa.

On Dec. 21, 2022, Norwegian Jade became the first vessel in the line’s 18-ship fleet to homeport from the South African port, offering international and local guests 12-day Extraordinary Journeys along the coast of South Africa and Namibia with an overnight stay in Cape Town, South Africa and visits to Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Richard’s Bay, South Africa; and Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia.

The international cruise line is building on its successful inaugural season in South Africa and has recently announced the deployment of Norwegian Dawn to the region in winter 2024. Homeporting from Cape Town, South Africa and Port Louis, Mauritius, the 2,340-passenger ship will offer a series of Extraordinary Journey voyages between January and March 2024.

Harry Sommer, Brand President and CEO at NCL, said, "As part of our Guest First philosophy we are focused on enhancing our destination offerings, providing our guests with more immersive itineraries that are designed to create memories of a lifetime. Our new Africa voyages are a testament to that, combining bucket-list locations such as Cape Town and Mauritius with hidden gems like Pomene and Maputo in Mozambique or Fort Dauphin in Madagascar. With an average of almost 12 hours in each port, allowing more time to fully experience these unforgettable destinations, the new voyages are already amongst our fastest selling cruises for 2024 and are attracting guests from almost 60 countries worldwide."

Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, comments: "Cruise tourism generates R300 million in economic impact for the Western Cape and supports thousands of jobs in the province. Positioning Cape Town as a homeport for international cruising and a gateway to Africa is a key growth opportunity for our region, and we welcome NCL’s commitment to sailing from Cape Town."

On Jan. 3, 2024, Norwegian Dawn will embark on her 17-day repositioning cruise to the region, sailing for the first time in the Company’s 56-year history from Doha, Qatar to Mauritius. The itinerary provides for a unique combination of calls to the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar.

On Jan. 20, 2024, she will then cruise a 12-day itinerary from Port Louis, Mauritius, calling to Pointe des Galets, Réunion; Fort Dauphin (Toalagnaro), Madagascar; Pomene and Maputo, Mozambique; Richard’s Bay, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), Mossel Bay and Cape Town, South Africa.

On Feb. 1 and March 8, 2024, Norwegian Dawn will complete 12-day roundtrip voyages through South Africa and Namibia with calls to Mossel Bay and Durban in South Africa, and Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia, before embarking on her most extensive itinerary on March 20, sailing from Cape Town, South Africa to Barcelona, Spain. The 21-day voyage along Africa’s west coast will visit ports in Namibia, Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, Canary Islands and Morocco.

Helsinki Shipyard floats out SH Diana

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 January 2023 26 January 2023

Swan Hellenic today announced that SH Diana, the newest and largest ship in its ultramodern 5-star fleet, was floated out of dry dock at Helsinki Shipyard this Monday 23rd January.

SH Diana’s fitting out is now already under way, leaving her comfortably on schedule for her maiden cruise, “Mysteries of Carthage and the Moors”, which will be leaving Palermo in Italy for Lisbon in Portugal on 15 April. Diana will then make her way up the West Atlantic seaboard of Europe for explorations of the Arctic.

Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic Limited, said: "We are delighted with the construction progress and quality of SH Diana, a Polar Class PC6 vessel with state-of-the-art ship technology and sustainability that will enter service as planned in April. We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard her to experience our cultural expedition cruises with the first-time option of choosing between shore exploration by tender boat as well as expedition zodiac.”

Kim Salmi, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard, "With exemplary co-operation between our personnel, owners representatives and our multiple contractors and suppliers, SH Diana has reached maturity for this milestone and was floated out. Works will now continue with intense commissioning phase, preparing her for passengers in April."

Saga says cruise revenue growth to exceed 100% in 2022/23 financial year

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 January 2023 24 January 2023

Saga plc, the UK based company that offers cruises, other holidays and e.g. financial services to those over the age of 50, said its cruise operations are developing according to plan and its cruise revenues would more than double in the 2022/23 financial year that will end on 31 January.

"For the second half of the year, as impacts from the pandemic lessened and customer demand continued to build, we expect to report an ocean cruise load factor of around 84%,” the company said in a statement.

“When combined with the 66% reported for the first half, this results in a full year load factor of around 75% which is in line with guidance and a significant increase when compared with 68% for the prior year,” Saga said.

It noted that the per diem, for the full year, is expected to be around £318 which is also significantly ahead of the prior year. These two factors, when combined, equate to year-on-year revenue growth for 2022/23 in excess of 100%.

Bookings for 2023/24, at 22 January 2023, are strong, reflecting a load factor of 60% and per diem of £337.

The company also offers river cruise which will be reported as a component of the Cruise business for its full year results and, for 2022/23, river cruise is expected to report a small loss before tax, Saga said.

Celebrity Ascent floated out at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard

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

Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in Celebrity Cruises' Edge Series, officially touched water for the first time on Saturday, January 21, as she was floated out from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. The moment marks the completion of the ship’s hull and exterior superstructure, and the vessel now progresses to the next phase of construction.

Debuting in December 2023, Celebrity Ascent will be the “twin sister” ship in every way to Celebrity Beyond, which debuted last spring to rave reviews and designed by a team of modern lifestyle icons including multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE; celebrated American designer Nate Berkus; lauded Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku; innovative British architect Tom Wright; and Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud.

“So much more than a ship, Celebrity Ascent will be the embodiment of a relaxed luxury resort at sea, and I can’t imagine a more exciting way to start the new year than by celebrating this important construction milestone,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “The collaboration between the shipyard and Celebrity teams continues to be extraordinary and I am grateful to all involved for their passion and expertise. Momentum and anticipation is quickly building for this ship and we’ll continue to share her progress and all that awaits our guests onboard this next installation in our groundbreaking, next-generation Edge Series.”

Celebrity Ascent is now mooring in its new location at the shipyard, where interior work on the ship will begin and continue over the next several months.

T. Mariotti and Neptune have signed a contract to launch Project Sama, the first vessel for the Aman

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 January 2023 20 January 2023

Project Sama represents the first ultra-luxury at sea experience from Neptune Co., a joint venture of Aman Group and Cruise Saudi. "This unique new concept in the ultra-luxury resort at sea niche, occupies a space in the leisure market that has never before been explored," T. Mariotti says in a press statement.

The 183 meter vessel, of approximately 23,000 gross tonnage, features Mariotti’s first dual fuel powered newbuild project capable of exceeding environmental priorities when delivered and well into the future. The exterior profile and guest accommodations are designed by world renowned Yacht Designers, SINOT. Project Sama will host guests in fifty sumptuous suites, featuring exceptional luxury, spacious public spaces and unrivaled entertainment facilities, a hallmark of the Aman brand.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Aman, the pinnacle player in high-end hospitality," says Marco Ghiglione T. Mariotti Managing Director. "We are proud to offer our luxury shipbuilding experience to this challenging new venture offering a unique combination of luxury, safety and versatility which will innovate the art of travelling at sea. This is yet another sign of the Made in Italy skill and capacity to satisfy the wishes of the most demanding customers in the world.”

This project represents a very important occasion to demonstrate once again the incredible value of the knowledge and expertise of local suppliers and subcontractors who will be working on this exciting concept. Among this group are De Wave, who will be responsible for luxury interior finishing and Ortec Santamaria for the electrical systems to consolidate even more the collaboration with T. Mariotti in newbuilding luxury projects. Project Sama is expected to launch in 2026; its official name will be announced in due course.