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Seabourn to offer summer luxury cruises from Barbados

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 April 2021 24 April 2021

Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise line, together with the Government of Barbados, is developing plans to restart guest sailings on a second ship through a series of new summer voyages operating round-trip out of Bridgetown, Barbados, beginning on July 18, 2021.

The brand also previously announced plans to resume guest operations in Greece aboard Seabourn Ovation starting July 3.

Seabourn Odyssey will operate 7-night cruises from Barbados to Southern Caribbean destinations, including idyllic ports of call in Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Kitts. The voyages are open for booking on April 21. Guests can also choose a 14-night option, which combines the two distinct 7-night itineraries between Windward and Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. Previously released itineraries for Fall 2021 sailings include additional port calls in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.

The itineraries include unique Seabourn experiences that become highlights of every traveler’s trip. The “Caviar in the Surf” at Carambola Beach has become a perennial favorite, allowing guests to enjoy beautiful beaches while Seabourn team members wade through turquoise water to serve chilled caviar and Champagne. The day also includes a lavish barbeque lunch featuring grilled lobster, fresh fruit and other delicious dishes. A Marina Day is also scheduled, where the ship’s staff treats guests to an afternoon of active watersports operated directly from a platform on the back of the ship.

“We are grateful to be working in concert with the Government of Barbados to restart tourism in Barbados and the Caribbean Sea,” said Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn. “The entire Seabourn family is energized to provide our award-winning service, dining and entertainment on board Seabourn Odyssey starting again this July.”

“We look forward to welcoming Seabourn back to our shores and are pleased with the outlook for the restart of the cruise industry,” said Sen. the Hon. Lisa Cummins, Minister of Tourism and International Transport for Barbados. “Safe travel is our priority, and placing vaccinations and other key public health travel protocols at the core of our cruise industry restart will not only restore traveler confidence, but also offer comfort to visitors and Barbadians alike.”

Each sailing also features a sea day for time spent on board enjoying venues like Earth & Ocean for al fresco dining, cooling off with artisanal gelato made fresh daily by the culinary team, or a host of activities available aboard Seabourn Odyssey. Those who prefer quiet relaxation can find a comfortable chair in Seabourn Square to read or even take time to watch the scenery go by on deck or from their private furnished veranda in their suite.

The series of voyages are open to any guests that are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. “Fully vaccinated” is a minimum of 14 days following the first or second dose (for those vaccines requiring two doses) of the currently approved Covid-19 vaccines being administered. Proof of vaccination and the dates given will be required. Approved forms of documentation will be confirmed closer to time of departure and must be shown at the terminal prior to boarding. Seabourn team members will also be vaccinated.

Seabourn guests will be required to comply with all health protocols that may be in place at the time of their departure. Travelers should check on travel requirements regularly, for both inbound travel to Barbados and their return home, since policies continue to change based on the latest advice.

Additional initial preventive health measures under Seabourn’s “Travel Safe” program will also be in place, including health screening questionnaires, face mask requirements, physical distancing and capacity controls for indoor venues, as well as enhanced environmental sanitation and upgraded high efficiency air filtration in the heating & cooling system. The brand’s protocols are subject to change as work continues in collaboration with medical experts and government bodies to ensure the practices evolve in line with the latest advice. Seabourn’s priority is to protect the health and well-being of our guests, team members, and the people in the communities the brand visits. More details on the protocols are available on the Seabourn website.

Seabourn is finalizing additional details for these voyages, including more information on the shoreside experiences, and will share them in the coming weeks. They will also be posted on the Seabourn website. Guests are encouraged to book early for best suite selection, and the brand will offer flexible cancellation terms through Book with Confidence as well.

Marella Cruises to add fifth ship by 2023 - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 April 2021 21 April 2021

Marella Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit in the TUI AG group, plans to introduce a fifth ship by 2023, travel weekly reports on its website.

“By 2023 we’re expecting that to increase to five ships. We will probably share some more details later on this year on that,” Chris Hackney, Managing Director of Marella Cruises was quoted by Travel Weekly as saying.

The company currently has a fleet of four ships. Marella Discovery and Marella Discover 2 were built in 1995-96 for Royal Caribbean International and Marella Explorer plus Marella Explorer 2 for Celebrity Cruises.

They are of the same vintage as the two other ships in the Marella Cruises’ fleet and all four are in the about 70,000 to 77,000 gross ton size range.

The company axed the 1986 built Marella Dream and the 1983 built Marella Celebration as the result of the pandemic.

MSC Cruises expands operations to Saudi-Arabia

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 April 2021 21 April 2021

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, will base a ship in Jeddah in Saudi-Arabia in the winter of 2021/22 and two of its other ships - including the flagship MSC Virtuosa - will call at a number of ports in the country, the company said in a statement.

Cruise Saudi, a 100% Public Investment Fund-owned business that seeks to develop Saudi Arabia’s cruise industry, and MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line, announced the launch of Red Sea cruises from the port of Jeddah in the coming winter 2021/22 season on MSC Magnifica.

Under the terms of an agreement between the two parties, MSC Magnifica will homeport in Jeddah, the commercial hub and one of the largest cities of Saudi Arabia, as well as the second-largest port in the Middle East with a historical centre that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Operating seven-day Red Sea cruises from November 2021 to March 2022, the vessel will visit a selection of ports and destinations in the region and three Saudi ports including weekly calls to the port of AlWajh, the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of AlUla.

In addition to MSC Magnifica’s Red Sea sailings, MSC Cruises’ flagship MSC Virtuosa will see her winter 2021 programme in the Arabian Gulf enriched with calls in the port of Dammam, visiting AlAhsa oasis, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Finally, MSC Virtuosa will call at this new destination every week from December 2021 to March 2022.

Royal Caribbean reveals Wonder of the Seas' deployment

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 April 2021 20 April 2021

Royal Caribbean International today announced that Wonder of the Seas, the latest evolution of the revolutionary Oasis Class, will set sail from Shanghai and Hong Kong, China in 2022 on 4- to 9-night adventures through the Far East to the best of Japan and more. Currently under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France, Wonder will be the world’s largest cruise ship and the first of its kind to call China home when it arrives in March 2022. The ship’s inaugural season cruises are now open for bookings.

On the horizon for vacationers with their sights on a getaway aboard Wonder are visits to popular destinations in Asia. Between March and November, guests can sail roundtrip from Shanghai to Japan, where they can immerse themselves in the local sights and sounds. From pleasing their palate in Osaka, to exploring the nation’s oldest official residence in Fukuoka, to tasting the best beef in Kobe and enjoying the natural scenery of the islands of Okinawa, all senses can be fulfilled on these culture-rich itineraries. The combination of ports of call to choose from also include Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Ishigaki and Miyazaki, Japan.

Wonder will transition to warmer climates and homeport in Hong Kong, November 2022 through January 2023, to offer highly anticipated Christmas and New Year’s holiday sailings to several ports of call. Part of the destination lineup are Chan May, Vietnam; Busan and Jeju, South Korea; Kochi and Okinawa, Japan; and Taipei, China.

“China continues to be one of the most important parts of the world for Royal Caribbean. We have won the trust of our partners and the favor of travelers and built on that significantly since we first set sail 12 years ago. By introducing Wonder of the Seas and the iconic Oasis Class to China, our strong commitment to the market’s growth is reaffirmed yet again for years to come,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “It will be a remarkable moment to see years of partnership realized when the industry’s newest, most innovative ship becomes Shanghai’s new city skyline and takes cruise travel beyond imagination.”

Wonder is the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s renowned Oasis Class. With a gross tonnage of 236,857, the ship is 362 meters long and 64 meters wide, and it features a total of 18 decks and 2,867 staterooms to accommodate up to 6,988 guests. On deck for travelers of all ages are the signature amenities the world’s largest and unmatched ships are known for since they first revolutionized cruising more than a decade ago, including the unique neighborhood concept. Wonder will be the first of its kind to be designed with eight neighborhoods, introducing the new Suite Neighborhood alongside returning favorites Central Park, the open-air AquaTheater, sporting a new look and where jaw-dropping, high-diving acrobatic and aquatic performances take place; Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; and a 25-meter zip line 10 decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Marella Cruises to offer UK domestic cruises on two ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 April 2021 15 April 2021

Marella Cruises, which is part of the TUI AG group, said it would operate domestic cruises in the UK on two ships.

Marella Explorer will set sail from Southampton on UK itineraries from June 25, sailing to new ports of call including, Belfast, Dublin and Liverpool.

Marella Explorer 2, the cruise lines adult only ship, will also offer UK sailings from Newcastle from Saturday 10 July, with even more UK ports of call. Newcastle sailings will go on sale by the end of this month.

The company said Marella Explorer will sail seven new UK itineraries during the summer season perfect for those looking to explore via sea the history and culture of some amazing British cities and towns. All itineraries will have recommended excursions from our onboard destination services team to offer guests options to make the most of their time ashore.

"Sail the South Coast itinerary is a great taster and for those new to cruising with a three-night itinerary from Southampton, visiting Dover for Canterbury Cathedral and Portland for the beautiful Abbotsbury Swannery & Gardens. Cruisers looking for a longer break can experience the new Sail the Irish Sea. Departing in August from Southampton, it will visit popular cities including Liverpool, Dublin and Cobh in the Republic of Ireland," Marella Cruises said.

Anyone aged 18-years and older will be required to have had both COVID-19 jabs at least seven days before travelling. All under 18-year-olds, excluding infants under the age of two who will not be able to sail as they are exempt from testing, will be asked to have a lateral flow test.

All guests must also provide proof of a negative lateral flow test before boarding the ships at the start of the cruise, the company said.