Vard delivers Hanseatic Inspiration to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 02 October 2019 02 October 2019

The Vard group’s Langsten shipyard in Norway has delivered the 16,000 gross ton expedition cruise ship Hanseatic Inspiration to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in Hamburg.

The 139 metre ships is the second in a series of three similar ships – Hanseatic Nature was delivered in April and Hanseatic Inspiration is scheduled to be handed over in 2021.

The ships features seven passenger decks, with 120 luxury cabins accommodating a maximum of 230 passengers. The vessels mix quality with environmental care alongside energy efficient hull design and technology, said the shipbuilder that is part of the Fincantieri group. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is part of TUI AG.

Disney Cruise Line announces return to New Orleans, popular itineraries to tropical destinations in early 2021

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 01 October 2019 01 October 2019

In early 2021, Disney Cruise Line will return to New Orleans for a limited-time engagement with sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean, including visits to Disney’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay. A lineup of popular itineraries will continue across the Disney fleet with cruises to tropical destinations from Texas, California and Florida.

Bookings open to the public on Oct. 3, 2019. More details on the itineraries spanning from January through May 2021 can be found on the Ports and Itineraries for 2021 page of disneycruise.com.

Return to New Orleans

Back by popular demand, the Disney Wonder will return to the bayou from late January through February 2021 with a series of magical voyages. A pair of 4- and 5-night cruises to the Western Caribbean kick off the season from New Orleans. The 5-night voyage includes a visit to Progreso, Mexico, a new port of call for Disney Cruise Line on the Yucatan Peninsula. This quaint town is filled with treasures for families to explore together, from ancient Mayan ruins to hidden swimming holes filled with crystal-clear water.

Three 7-night sailings to the Bahamas with a stop at Castaway Cay, plus a 14-night Panama Canal cruise, round out the departures from the Crescent City in early 2021.

Guests sailing from New Orleans will experience the flavors and flair of the Big Easy both onboard the Disney Wonder and ashore. The sounds and sights of New Orleans come to life at Tiana’s Place restaurant, where families are transported to an era of southern charm, spirited jazz and street party celebrations with live music and other surprises inspired by the Disney animated film “The Princess and the Frog.” Before or after their cruise, guests can savor the city’s distinct cuisine, visit family-friendly museums and parks, and take in the sounds of world-renowned live jazz music.

Popular itineraries from Texas and California

The Disney Wonder will also return to the popular home ports of Galveston and San Diego in early 2021. Guests sailing from Texas can enjoy the white-sand beaches of the Western Caribbean on a series of four- and six-night cruises to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. One seven-night departure will feature stops at Key West, Nassau and Castaway Cay.

Following the season in New Orleans, the Disney Wonder heads to the West Coast for a variety of sailings to Baja and the Mexican Riviera departing from San Diego. Families can hunt for gold aboard a pirate ship in Cabo San Lucas, embark on an off-road adventure in Ensenada or sunbathe on glittering sand beaches on cruises ranging from three to seven nights.

Bahamian and Caribbean getaways from Florida

Disney Cruise Line will have three ships sailing to the Bahamas and Caribbean from Florida in early 2021, and every cruise includes a day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. This destination, reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests, is the ultimate escape for everyone in the family. A day at Castaway Cay offers opportunities for adventure and relaxation in a lush, tropical setting filled with classic Disney storytelling.

– From Miami, the Disney Magic will sail 3-, 4- and 5-night Bahamian and Western Caribbean cruises.
– From Port Canaveral, the Disney Fantasy will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
– From Port Canaveral, the Disney Dream will sail 3- and 4-night Bahamian cruises.

Hurtigruten to base Maud in Dover for series of Arctic cruises in winter of 2021-22

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 30 September 2019 30 September 2019

Hurtigruten, the Norwegian expedition cruise line, will offer winter sailings from the Port of Dover as part of their new Norway Expedition 2021-22 programme.

Available from October 2021 to March 2022, Maud, currently trading as Trollfjord and to be rebuilt with three other ships of the line – will sail on the 14 night cruise along the coast of Norway and offering more time in familiar and new ports.

“In addition, there will be more expedition team members onboard, who will be on hand to share their knowledge of the Norwegian coastline and help guests find their inner explorer on and offshore,” the company said in a statement.

Anthony Daniels, Hurtigruten UK MD, said: “We are delighted to launch our first ever season from Dover. This new route offers a truly exceptional way for guests to explore the coast of Norway and experience the Northern Lights all at the convenience and comfort of a UK departure. Not only will we take guests to new highlights, but with an increased presence of Expedition team leaders onboard we will help new and existing guest to become immersed in the rich wildlife and cultural offering of Norway.”

Hapag-Lloyd to start using 0.1% sulphur fuel in July 2020

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 30 September 2019 30 September 2019

The ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the luxury and expedition cruise ship operator that is part of TUI AG, will use marine gas oil with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1 % (LS-MGO) exclusively.

The figure is well below the maximum permitted under the new IMO rules that will take effect from the beginning of next year.

“From January 2020, the IMO will ban ships from using fuels with a sulfur content above 0.5%, compared with 3.5% now. “Only ships fitted with sulfur-cleaning devices known as scrubbers will be allowed to continue burning high-sulfur fuel,” the IMO said on its website.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will cut the emissions of its fleet of both luxury and expedition ships significantly. “By transitioning to the low-pollutant fuel voluntarily, the sulphur emissions of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet will be cut by 80 %. Additionally, the switch to marine gas oil means a reduction in soot and particulates of up to 30 %,” the company said in a statement.

Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: “With our years of expertise in the luxury and expedition segment, we set the highest standards in the industry with our ships and are committed to adhering to strict environmental protection standards. Already we have made significant progress in this context and never stop working to improve even further. These efforts have taken us far beyond the minimum statutory requirements. The decision not to use heavy fuel oil is a significant step towards operating environmentally-conscious cruises and an important investment in our future.”

In 1993 Hapag-Lloyd Cruises stopped using heavy fuel oil in the Arctic of its own volition and only uses marine gas oil with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1 %. At the start of the year, the company announced its decision to transition gradually and stop using heavy fuel oil in its expedition fleet in future. This important development now continues.

Additionally, all new ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – including the EUROPA 2 and the new expedition class – are compatible with cold ironing and have been fitted with modern SCR (selective catalytic reduction) catalytic converters. These converters clean exhaust gases and lower nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 95 %.

The global routes will be planned and carried out with an average speed that is environmentally-friendly, cutting fuel consumption by over one third. The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet is also equipped with seawater desalination technology to produce clean water, as well as with biological sewage treatment plants. The bow thrusters and stabilisers run on environmentally-friendly bio-petroleum.

“I believe that travel is immensely valuable and an important means of developing an understanding of the world. Cruising with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises means understanding nature better, coming face-to-face with it and even feeling a sense of humility before it,” added Pojer.