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Québec cruise passenger numbers hit new record high

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 May 2019 23 May 2019

On May 16th, Caroline Proulx, Québec Minister of Tourism, unveiled cruise passenger numbers for Destination Saint Lawrence. The cumulative total of 488,797 passenger-days logged in 2018 represents a new record high for Québec’s ever burgeoning cruise industry. The 2019 season, which launched only recently, is set to become the longest since international cruise ships first began sailing the waters of the Saint Lawrence, extending from an early spring stopover on April 28th in the Magdalen Islands to a late fall call into port on November 2nd at Saguenay.

Passenger numbers in 2018 increased 26% over the corresponding figure for the year previous. The total of 488,797 passenger-days and 193 041 crew combined to propel destination traffic to new heights. The 41 ships which operated on the Saint Lawrence spent 541 days in port in the nine Saint Lawrence ports of call. These impressive achievements speak volumes about Québec’s capacity to carve a place for itself in international cruise circles and build global recognition.

Now under way, 2019 is shaping up to be as successful as 2018, with the early spring arrival of Hurtigruten’s Fram, followed closely by Holland America’s Zaandam. As the season progresses, Destination Saint Lawrence will welcome four new cruise lines, namely TUI Cruises of Germany, MSC Cruises of Italy, Scenic Cruises of Australia and Peace Boat of Japan. Scheduled to operate itineraries originating in the United States, these new companies will help diversify our customer base.

Over the years, Destination Canada New England, which includes the member ports of the Saint Lawrence, has secured a position of choice in the rapidly growing international cruise industry. Cruise ship construction continues unabated with a mix of larger liners and smaller expedition vessels due to enter into service in the years ahead. Given the breadth of destination offerings, Cruise the Saint Lawrence is well poised to cater to the needs of a diversity of traveller profiles. Going forward, our association will continue to provide for sustained, soundly managed growth, while devising and deploying a strategy intended to transform the Saint Lawrence into a year‑round cruise destination, winter included!

Cruise the Saint Lawrence is a sectoral organization which groups together the nine ports of call located along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. The mission of the organization is to grow cruise market activities in Québec and across Destination Canada New England through the provision of marketing and development services to members. Cruise the Saint Lawrence enjoys the support of partners Tourism Québec, Québec Tourism Industry Alliance and Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Scarlet Lady to visit Dover and Liverpool - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 May 2019 22 May 2019

Virgin Voyages’ first ship Scarlet Lady will call at Dover and Liverpool before homeporting in Miami next year, Travel Weekly reports on its website.

The 2,700-passenger ship will sail from Genoa where it is being built before arriving in the UK in late February. Miami based Virgin Voyages that is part of the London based Virgin Group has four 110,000 gross ton ships on order at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa.

Agents will join media and VIPs at several exclusive events on Scarlet Lady before the vessel sails to Miami. The news was part of an announcement made by former Spice Girl Geri Horner at a press conference in central London.

It comes as Virgin Voyages also revealed it was expanding its partnership with music producer and DJ Mark Ronson. The British artist has joined the Virgin Voyages’ Creative Collective – a group of artists and designers which has collaborated with the line. Ronson will create a series of pre-voyage and onboard playlists for passengers, as well as curating the vinyl record selection in the ship’s RockStar Suites and the onboard music shop called Voyage Vinyl.

Ronson is also scheduled to play four times at The Beach Club, Virgin Voyages’ private beach in the Bahamas, on July 9, 2020 alongside DJ and record producer Diplo.

“Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin brand were legendary game-changers in the music industry and it’s a thrill to join them as they bring that same spirit to sea travel,” Ronson was quoted as saying.

SeaDream newbuilding’s battery pack will power up to three hours’ cruising

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 May 2019 20 May 2019

SeaDream Innovation, the 15,000 gross ton expedition ship SeaDream Yacht Club has ordered from Damen Cruise, will be equipped with a large battery pack of approximately 4 MWh, which enables sailing silently and without emissions for up to three hours with no disturbance to surrounding wildlife.

“The hybrid system will reduce local emissions by supporting the diesel generators in “peak shaving mode”, reducing fuel consumption. The yacht will be able to sail to sensitive areas such as the Norwegian fjords and along the ice edge toward the North Pole because of this system. The batteries also bring an added degree of safety, acting as ‘spinning reserve,’ which in the event of a motor shutdown switches instantaneously to the use of batteries without loss of power,” the company said in a statement.

SeaDream has received a grant for $1.8 million for the creation of the revolutionary vessel from Enova, an organisation owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment that is responsible for the promotion of environmentally friendly production and consumption of energy.

SeaDream Innovation will also be fitted with an "Organic Rankine Cycle" machine that takes waste heat from the engines and converts it to electricity. This can produce up to 150 kW of electrical power, which would otherwise have been wasted energy, and instead reduces fuel consumption and results in lower emissions.

Where available by port, SeaDream Innovation can be plugged into shoreside electrical grids around the world by using a multi-voltage shore connection system reducing local pollution anywhere in the world.

The mega-yacht has four modern diesel engines and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system for reducing nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions to the most stringent IMO rules with engines rated to meet the latest and most stringent MARPOL Tier III limits. SeaDream Innovation will be equipped with two podded propulsors providing the highest efficiency and maneuverability. Additionally, SeaDream Innovation will have the high ice class that is designated by PC6.

Crystal Mozart to leave Crystal River Cruises' fleet

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 May 2019 17 May 2019

When Crystal River Cruises’ 2020 season embarks next spring, it will be with the youngest fleet of luxury ships in the river industry. Crystal Mozart, popularly known as the Queen of the Danube, will depart the Crystal fleet for a Genting Cruise Lines’ (under Genting Hong Kong, Crystal’s parent company) venture that will be announced at a later date.

With the departure of Crystal Mozart, the average age of Crystal River Cruises’ remaining ships – identical newbuilds Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel – will be under two years, having launched in 2017 and 2018.

“Crystal River Cruises’ ships are not only the newest in the industry, they are the only to feature all-suite, all-balcony accommodations with every room category situated above the water line and offering Crystal’s signature personal butler service,” said Tom Wolber, Crystal’s president & CEO. “While the new ships’ itineraries vary, our guests and travel advisors will now find a uniform ship experience across the full fleet.”

At 135 meters long, Crystal River Cruises’ new ships are the most spacious in the industry carrying only 106 guests, which is less than half of the guest count for ships that are similar in size, with staterooms averaging over 40 percent larger than the industry norm. Travelers are also served by twice as many crew per guest providing the renowned service for which Crystal is known.

Crystal Mozart’s last Crystal voyage available to the public will embark December 2, 2019, from Vienna to Budapest. “Crystal Mozart set the stage for Crystal River Cruises’ debut as its inaugural ship in the summer of 2016, and we are pleased to see her carrying onward with Genting Cruise Lines,” Wolber said.

Crystal guests currently booked aboard previously scheduled Crystal Mozart 2020 sailings will be accommodated on similar Danube itineraries offered by Crystal Mahler or Crystal Ravel.

Silver Discoverer sold – two more ships available for sale or charter from SunStone

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 May 2019 17 May 2019

Sea Spirit

SunStone Ships has announced the sale of the Silver Discoverer to the French river cruise company CroisiEurope, as reported earlier this week. The Silver Discoverer is currently on charter to Silversea Cruises and will be redelivered between late July and early August in Singapore. Simultaneously with the redelivery from Silversea Cruises the vessel will be delivered to CroisiEurope.

The Silver Discoverer is a warm water expedition cruise ship, built in 1989, with a length of 102 meters, furnished with 64 passenger cabins for a capacity of 128 passengers.

Meanwhile, the 400-cabin cruise vessel Gemini is for sale or charter with delivery from October 2019. For the summer of 2019 the Gemini is on charter to ETSTUR, where it will operate in the Western Mediterranean on cruises ranging 3-7 nights. Full specification, photographs, and a general arrangement plan can be found on the SunStone website www.sunstoneships.com.

Information regarding purchase or charter of this vessel, can be obtained from Niels-Erik Lund at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Sea Spirit is currently on charter to Poseidon Expeditions, who has operated the vessel for several years to the Antarctic in the winter, and in the Arctic in the summer. The Sea Spirit was built in 1991, suited for operating in both cold and warm waters, with 60 cabins to accommodate a capacity of 120 passengers.

The vessel has gone through a complete upgrade of all interior spaces, such as the soft furnishings in the cabins, new cabin bathrooms as well as an upgrade of all public spaces. Furthermore, in April 2019 new Rolls Royce Zero Speed Stabilizers were installed. It is the first cruise ship to have these Zero Speed Stabilizers installed.

The Sea Spirit is on a Deck-Engine-Hotel-Time-Charter, with Poseidon Expeditions until May 2022. The vessel can be chartered or sold with delivery during May 2022. Alternatively the vessel can be sold now, with a BareBoat charter back until May 2022.

Full specification, photographs, and a general arrangement plan can be found on the SunStone website www.sunstoneships.com.

Information regarding purchase or charter of this vessel, can be obtained from Niels-Erik Lund at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..