Costa Crociere cancels 2020-21 South America season, cuts 2021-22 capacity

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 08 September 2020 08 September 2020

Costa Crociere,  part of Carnival Corporation & plc, has announced the cancellation of the 2020-21 season in South America that had been scheduled to employ three ships, while only two will be used in 2021-22.

“All cruises aboard the Costa Fascinosa, Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica ships in South America, with embarkations scheduled for the period from November 2020 to April 2021, are canceled,” the company said in a statement.

Dario Rustico, executive president of Costa Crociere for Central and South America said the company was planning to resume operations in the region in the 2021-22 season with two ships.

With embarkations in Santos, the Costa Favolosa will have its first regular cruise departing on 5 December 2021, and will offer 17 itineraries from six to seven nights, dedicated to the northeast region of the country.

Costa Favolosa will also offer three mini-cruises, from three to four nights, and will have Christmas and New Year's Eve cruises on Copacabana beach and Carnival. Thematic cruises are confirmed with departure dates to be defined.

Confirmed for another summer in South American waters, Costa Pacifica will have cruises of seven and eight nights through the Prata region, with embarkations from Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Montevideo. On 31 December 2021, the ship will dock at Copacabana beach for a New Year's Eve celebration.

The 2021-22 season will still be marked by cruises between Italy and Brazil and Brazil and Italy. These cruises allow guests to visit different places in the world in a single voyage, the company said.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils Bolette’s inaugural programme

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 07 September 2020 07 September 2020

The inaugural cruise programme for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ (FOCL) new flagship Bolette has been unveiled, including a number of brand new itineraries and a series of UK cruises, with guests able to book from 7 September, the company said in a statement.

“Bolette’s maiden voyage will be a seven-night ‘Scotland & Northern Ireland’ cruise, setting sail from Southampton on 5th March 2021. This will be followed by two further UK cruises before Bolette sets sail for the warmer climates of the Azores and Madeira over the Easter break,” the company said in a statement.

Bolette was previously Amsterdam of Holland America Line and it is one of the two mid-1990s sister ships that the FOCL acquired from the Carnival Corporation & plc group unit. They will replace two older ships, Black Watch and Boudicca, which are smaller and were built in the early 1970s.

Bolette’s inaugural programme will include itineraries previously scheduled for Boudicca, with a number of brand new sailings added, and will operate predominantly from the port of Dover.

Guests who book onto any of Bolette’s sailings for 2021 or 2022 by 30th September 2020 will enjoy FREE tips and up to £100 per person to spend on board.

Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Service, said: “Our new ships have been a long time in the planning, so it is great to be able to officially unveil our itineraries for Bolette today. We know that our guests can’t wait to get back cruising again, and to experience our new ships for themselves. Now they can really start planning their first holiday back with us, whether they are looking for a UK break, to escape to warmer climates or for something a little more adventurous."

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Some highlights from Bolette’s inaugural cruise season include:

The seven-night T2103 ‘Scenic Scotland with Belfast’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 5th March 2021. Prices start from £699 per person.

 

Experience something very special and be among the first guests to sail on Fred. Olsen’s new flagship, Bolette. Immerse yourself in the beauty and remoteness of the Scottish isles; Marvel at the intriguing wonders of Dutchman’s Cap and Fingal’s Cave; Explore ashore in the Shetland and Orkney Islands and take in the highlights of Northern Ireland’s capital, Belfast.

Ports of call: Southampton, England – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Cruising by Fingals Cave, Isle of Staffa – Cruising by Dutchman’s Cap (Bac Mor) – Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland – Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland – Southampton, England

 

The 12-night T2114 Icelandic Wonders & Wildlife cruise, departing from Dover on 3rd June 2021. Prices start from £1,799 per person.

Natural wonders and wildlife await your discovery as you explore Iceland’s incredible landscape and waterways. An overnight stay in Reykjavik offers plenty of time to witness the splendour of the Golden Circle’s many hot springs and waterfalls. Meanwhile, unforgettable experiences such as fjord kayaking and whale watching await, along with the spectacular sights of Seyðisfjörður, Eyjafjörður and Hrisey Island.

Ports of call: Dover, England – Reykjavík, Iceland (overnight stay) – Ísafjörður, Iceland – Akureyri, Iceland – Cruising Eyjafjörður, Iceland – Cruising by Hrisey, Iceland – Seyðisfjörður, Iceland – Cruising Seyðisfjörður, Iceland – Kirkwall, Orkney Islands – Dover, England

 

The 16-night T2128 ‘Moroccan Discovery with Cape Verde’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 20th November 2021. Prices start from £1,799 per person.

 

Experience the vibrant cultures, fascinating history and local way of life in visits to Cape Verde and Morocco; Be captivated by the African and Portuguese-influenced architecture, music and dance, in Cape Verde; Behold the buzz of day-to-day Moroccan life amongst the souks, streets and squares of Agadir, Tangier and Casablanca, and seek-out the country’s iconic, world-famous landmarks.

 

Tersan shipyard launches two Havila Kystruten ships

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 07 September 2020 07 September 2020

The Tersan shipyard has launched two of the four 15,800 gross ton cruise ship newbuildings Havila Kystruten has on order at the Turkish builder, the Norwegian company said in a statement.

Havila Castor and Havila Capella will be employed with their two sisters on the Norwegian coastal express run between Bergen and Kirkenes.

Both ships were due for delivery this month, according to Shippax Info, the Swedish ferry and cruise industry publication. However, Havila Kystruten CEO Arild Myrvoll said in the statement that the Covid-19 pandemic had slowed the construction work, but it looks likely that they could be delivered in the first 1quarter of 2021.

As the delivery of the two first newbuildings had been delayed, Havila Kystruten has received approval to use two replacement vessels instead on the service that is subsidized by the Norwegian government.

However, the demand for capacity on the coastal express service has been affected by the pandemic and the outlook remains highly uncertain, although enquiries from tour operators and travel agencies are brisk, Havila Kystruten said.

Genting Cruise Lines to develop domestic cruise itineraries out of Hainan

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 02 September 2020 02 September 2020

Genting Cruise Lines announced that the company is working to forge a strategic partnership with the Sanya CBD Administration and a prominent national travel industry corporation to establish a joint venture company to facilitate operations of Dream Cruises’ flagship in Sanya. The goal of the new joint venture will be to launch domestic cruise itineraries out of the central cruise hub of Hainan, and to support the development of a free trade, pilot cruise tourism zone on Hainan Island.

“We are keen to support the Chinese government’s efforts in rebuilding its travel and tourism sector by providing a safe and care-free vacation option for consumers,” said Mr Kent Zhu, President, Genting Cruise Lines. “Genting Cruise Lines has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with China, and especially in Hainan Island, for nearly 30 years and we will continue to build on the strong collaborative spirit we have forged together.”

Genting Cruise Lines’ rich history with Hainan Island has been marked by numerous milestones. From as early as 1994, Genting Cruise Lines’ ships have been visiting Hainan as a regular port of call, introducing millions of international travelers to the fabled beauty of Hainan Island via the convenience of a cruise vacation. In 2011, Genting Cruise Lines became the first international cruise company to homeport in Sanya, developing the city into an international cruise destination.

Sanya boasts an abundance of advantages to complement the pilot implementation of the “Hainan Cruise Port Sea-Upstream Route” plan, such as the first dedicated cruise terminal providing the only cruise itineraries to the Xisha islands in the country. The city’s location also allows for the longest number cruising days for domestic sailings, and there are plans to further develop Sanya into the largest cruise homeport in China. The Sanya CBD, one of the 11 districts and parks implementing Hainan’s free trade port policies, manages the Sanya Headquarters Economy division, the CBD division and the cruise and yachting division, to establish a modern industrial system supported by professional services for the leisure sector.

Mr. Wu Haifeng, Vice Mayor of the Sanya Municipal People’s Government and President of the Sanya CBD Administration said, “Genting Hong Kong is the first cruise company to homeport in the city and with the longest deployment period and the highest number of sailings to date. Since its establishment, the Sanya CBD Administration has initiated planning for the industry and devised policies in support of the industry. We have also established a cruise and yachting service center and a representative system for commercial stakeholders, as well as hosted a Forum on the Innovation of the Cruise and Yachting Industry. Moving forward, the Sanya CBD will collaborate with the government to diversify the supply of cruise travel products in the market, to develop cruise destinations and extend the industry chain, with the aim to build Sanya into a key cruise travel hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The Sanya CBD Administration will continue to strive for excellence in its public service to the industry, to foster an ideal business environment for investors, as well as to work with companies to rebuild consumer confidence in cruise travel and to drive the sustained development of the cruise industry.”

To further boost tourism and reinforce the positioning of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Hainan government announced earlier this year the pilot plan for the “Hainan Island Cruise Itineraries for Chinese-funded ‘Flag of Convenience’ Ships” providing more options for cruise companies.

Mr. Zhu added, “The establishment of a joint venture company in Sanya demonstrates our commitment and determination to further drive the development of cruise tourism in Hainan. Our aim is to provide a dedicate presence in Sanya, focused on promoting the rich cultural heritage of the island coupled with the wealth of cruise experience of Genting Cruise Lines. In the post-pandemic era of travel, we hope that the authorities will further relax their policy for cruise companies operating domestic cruises and we will leverage on policies in Hainan, such as the “Flag Of Convenience” pilot program, to entice inbound international travelers. The long-term goal is to put Hainan on the map as one of the most popular global cruise homeports and the central hub among popular destinations that can be easily reached within 24-hours.”

As the first cruise company in the world to launch updated preventive measures for a post-pandemic era and to ensure the safest environment for everyone on board its ships, Genting Cruise Lines has completely re-examined and enhanced all of its health, hygiene and operating protocols including thorough sanitization and disinfection and enhanced hygiene practices for guest cabins and crew member quarters, public areas and recreational facilities; social distancing in dining, entertainment and public areas; safe food and beverage handling procedures. All cruise ships in the Genting Cruise Lines fleet also feature 100% fresh air ventilation in staterooms and public areas, preventing cross-contamination of air flow, to provide total peace of mind to travelers.

“A testament to the efficacy of the company’s enhanced health and safety measures, we are proud to also report that Explorer Dream, the first cruise ship to resume operations after the global industry shutdown, has been operating in Taiwan for over a month without any incident and garnered high scores in terms of passenger satisfaction. The successful resumption of operations of Explorer Dream helped us gain invaluable experience for our upcoming deployments,” added Mr. Zhu. “It is our goal to provide our guests in Mainland China with same opportunity to enjoy a much deserved vacation experience marked by Dream Cruises’ reputation for unbeatable quality, hospitality and safety.”