Viking's new ocean ship to sail new Nordic voyages in 2023
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 14 October 2021 14 October 2021
Viking has announced its newest ocean ship, Viking Saturn, will join the company’s fleet in early 2023. The 930-guest sister ship will spend her maiden season sailing three new itineraries in Scandinavian and Nordic countries, including two 15-day journeys, Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada and Iceland & Norway’s Arctic Explorer, and the 29-day Greenland, Iceland, Norway & Beyond voyage. In addition to the three new itineraries, Viking also announced that the company will bring back the popular 8-day Iceland’s Natural Beauty itinerary starting in August 2023.
“The thousands of guests who sailed our Welcome Back voyage in Iceland this past summer enjoyed the experience so much they provided record-level ratings,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “These new itineraries are ideal for curious travelers and trace routes of the early Viking explorers to Iceland and other North Atlantic destinations known for their natural beauty. We look forward to welcoming Viking Saturn to our fleet and to offering guests even more ways to explore this unique part of the world in comfort.”
Azamara publishes 39 new itineraries for 2023/24
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 14 October 2021 14 October 2021
The destination focused boutique cruise line Azamara has unveiled 39 new itineraries across its four-ship fleet for 2023 and 2024.
“This latest deployment will take Azamara guests to every corner of the world, with each ship embarking in a different location: Azamara Pursuit in South Africa, Azamara Quest in South America, Azamara Journey in Australia and Asia, and Azamara Onward in the Mediterranean and Caribbean regions,” the company said in a statement.
“With this itinerary release, we are thrilled to offer over 20 maiden ports, dock in smaller destinations that large ships can’t access, and most exciting of all, for the first time we will have a ship in every corner of the world. In addition, this November we will be unveiling a new, highly requested offering from Azamara, which involves travel across the globe,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.
MSC Cruises cancels 2022 world cruise, offers two in 2023
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 14 October 2021 14 October 2021
MSC Cruises said that it had cancelled its 2022 world cruise, but added that it would offer two such voyages in the following year.
MSC Magnifica would be joining MSC Poesia and they would both depart on 4 January from Civitavecchia and 5 January 2023 from Genoa, Italy, for simultaneous world cruises, albeit taking different routes around the globe, the company said in a statement.
“MSC Magnifica will replicate the very same itinerary that was supposed to be performed by MSC Poesia for the MSC World Cruise 2022. Unfortunately, the decision has been taken after careful consideration and assessment, to cancel the 2022 World Cruise as it would not have been possible to carry it out due to there being too many ports still facing restrictions as a result of the pandemic,” the company said.
Mein Schiff Herz to become Marella Voyager in 2023
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 14 October 2021 14 October 2021
TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Herz will be transferred from the German to the UK market in 2023, when the ship will enter service as Marella Voyager, the TUI AG group said in a statement.
The ship that started life in 1997 as Mercury of Celebrity Cruises has accommodation for 1,912 passengers and is of 77,302 gross tons. It will be the fifth ship of Marella Cruises and the pending transfer means that all three Century class ships built in the mid- 1990s will sail under that company’s houseflag.
Marella Voyager commence operations in June 2023, with Mediterranean itineraries on sale from 4 November 2021.
TUI UK Managing Director Chris Hackney said: “This ship builds on our already popular fleet and offers loyal customers and new customers more choice.”
“We know what our customers like and so we want to ensure we keep some Marella Cruises favourites but also adding a different flavour to Marella Voyager too.”
Marella Cruises is fully owned by TUI AG unit TUI UK, while TUI Cruises is jointly owned by the German company and Royal Caribbean Group.
Photo: Marella Explorer, formerly Galaxy of Celebrity Cruises, is a sister ship of future Marella Voyager
Six out of 10 respondents in UK poll plan to book cruise this winter or next
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 13 October 2021 13 October 2021
Results of a poll conducted by cruise.co.uk, a major online retailer of cruises, shows strong interest in cruising in the winter months, with the Caribbean by far the most popular destination.
“Almost sixout of 10 respondents (57%) are considering booking a cruise this winter or next, as travel restrictions continue to open up,” the company said in a statement.
Almost 900 people were polled, with 45% selecting the Caribbean as their ideal winter warmer. Australia came in second at 11%, while summer favourite the Mediterranean was third most popular with 9%.
Meanwhile, a Christmas cruise is on the bucket list of 63% of those surveyed. Cruise lines continue sailing over the festive period, decorating their ships accordingly as well as introducing a seasonal flavour to their menus and activities.
Tony Andrews, deputy managing director of the company said: “The Caribbean has been a clear winter favourite with cruisers for some time and it’s clear it’s lost none of its shine. The prospect of sunny skies, crystal clear waters and welcoming locals means many of us are setting our sights on a tropical escape. With travel now becoming more and more accessible, the prospect of sipping a top-deck cocktail while watching the sunny shores of the Caribbean drift by is once again on our wishlists.”
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