Royal Caribbean to send Oasis of the Seas to New York, Anthem and Independence of the Seas to Southampton 2020-21

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 13 December 2018 13 December 2018

Royal Caribbean International, the contemporary market unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises, ltd (RCCL) group, said Oasis of the Seas would operate from New York and Anthem of the Seas from Southampton in the UK in 2020-21.

“An amped up Oasis of the Seas will greet Lady Liberty and deliver new vacations from the Northeast with 7-night Caribbean itineraries that include an unforgettable day at the cruise line's highly anticipated private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas. Oasis will be the first ship in her class and the world's largest to sail from the Northeast,” the company said in a statement, referring to a forthcoming major upgrade of the ship.

“For the first time since 2015, Anthem of the Seas will return to the UK to sail alongside Independence of the Seas, marking the cruise line's biggest presence in the region to-date,” RCCL said.

Celebrating its one-year anniversary in summer 2020, Perfect Day at CocoCay will welcome 10 ships from more ports than any previous deployment, including newly added Galveston, Texas, as well as Barcelona, Spain on Allure and Rhapsody of the Seas' transatlantic sailings in November 2020. Adventure seekers from around the world will have more opportunity than ever to discover the thrill and chill experiences that await the whole family, including the tallest waterslide in North America, the Caribbean's largest wave pool, and the highest vantage point in The Bahamas from a helium balloon that rises 450 feet in the air. Delivering on its promise of creating memorable vacations on land and on board, Royal Caribbean will tout seven ships in 2020-21 that have emerged from the global cruise line's $1 billion Royal Amplified modernization program launched in 2018, introducing a wide range of bold, new adventures designed to appeal to all ages.

Oasis of the Seas will undergo a bow-to-stern transformation in 2019 and become the first Royal Amplified ship to sail from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J., starting in May 2020. Oasis of the Seas will transport travelers to the clear blue waters of The Bahamas all summer with 7-night itineraries, as well as a select number of short cruises north to New England and Canada.

Adventure of the Seas will return to Cape Liberty, sailing a variety of 5- and 9-night summer and fall itineraries to Bermuda, New England and Canada, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. Travelers can extend leaf peeping season on Vision of the Seas, which will offer three 10- to 11-night open-jaw itineraries between Bayonne and Quebec City with an overnight in Quebec's capital – a UNESCO World Heritage treasure and North America's only fortified city.

Symphony of the Seas and sister ship Harmony of the Seas, the ultimate family ships, will return to PortMiami and Port Canaveral, Fla., respectively, offering 7-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Both ships will feature visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the ultimate destination for thrill and chill, on nearly all sailings.

Brilliance of the Seas will light up Boston in the fall, sailing 7- to 10-night cruises to Canada starting in September 2020, while Grandeur of the Seas continues to offer 9-night itineraries to Canada and New England for fall foliage from her year-round homeport in Baltimore, Md.Grandeur will embark on a combination of 5- and 9-night itineraries to Bermuda and The Bahamas in the summer months, and transition to 9-night Southeast Coast & Bahamas and 12-night Southern Caribbean cruises for the winter. Northeast, Canada and Bermuda itineraries will be available to book as of Dec. 13, 2018.

In 2020, San Juan, Puerto Rico will welcome what will be the newly modernized Freedom of the Seas. The largest ship to ever homeport in San Juan will return for the third consecutive year to sail 7-night itineraries year-round throughout the Southern Caribbean, traveling beyond the typical getaway to exotic destinations like Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Johns, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia and Bridgetown, Barbados. Rounding out the 7-night Caribbean offerings is Liberty of the Seas, which will continue to sail from Galveston to the Western Caribbean ahead of her own highly anticipated amplification in early 2021. The 7-night Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries will be available to book as of Dec. 13, 2018.

No stranger to Perfect Day at CocoCay, two of Royal Caribbean's Amplified ships – Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas – will continue to elevate short Caribbean getaways all year with 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday itineraries to The Bahamas. Reimagined in 2018, Mariner will continue to sail from Port Canaveral in Orlando, Fla., while an amped up Navigator will remain a resident of Miami, sailing from the cruise line's state-of-the-art Terminal A. Navigator will be the third ship to be reimagined in February 2019, building on the successes of the brand's Royal Amplified fleet modernization program to incorporate a lineup of firsts and Royal Caribbean favorites with new experiences, including an awe-inspiring Caribbean poolscape, two daring waterslides – introducing the longest aqua coaster at sea – the first blow dry bar the industry, elevated nightlife and dining, and thrilling activities. Short Caribbean itineraries are now open to book.

Sharing the Texas-sized spotlight, Enchantment of the Seas will, for the first time from Galveston, offer a lineup of sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay for adventurous vacationers who want to wrangle first-time experiences that will top any bucket list. Enchantment will continue a mix of 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean sailings in the summer, perfect for short getaways and first-time cruise vacationers.

 The Old World will get a new spin with Royal Caribbean's summer 2020 deployment. Longtime New York resident, Anthem of the Seas, will make the journey across the Atlantic to Southampton, England returning for the first time in five years. Anthem is set to embark on her biggest adventure yet as the Quantum Class ship visits coastal towns along the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Canary Islands, on 8- to 14-night itineraries. Modernized in 2018, Independence of the Seas will return to Southampton for the season and sail 7- to 14-night cruises around the Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and North Africa, Scandinavia & Russia, and Italian Mediterranean, including new destinations Agadir, Morocco and Ponta Delgada in Portugal's Azores archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. Vacationers can also revel in the beauty of the Baltic with a 14-night itinerary – a first for a Freedom Class ship – featuring an overnight in Copenhagen, Denmark and two nights in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

Royal Amplified will reach the far corners of Europe as Allure of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas debut multimillion-dollar modernizations as they journey across Europe for the 2020 summer and fall seasons to rediscover legendary landmarks, charming coastlines and the diverse cultures. Allure of the Seas will be the first Royal Amplified Oasis Class ship in Europe, offering 7-night Western Mediterranean itineraries that depart from Barcelona. From Rome, the reimagined Explorer will offer a mix of 7- to 12-night sailings along the Greek Isles, uncovering storied temples, amphitheaters and villages.

Vision of the Seas will join Allure in Barcelona for the summer and fall seasons to offer travelers 12-night cruises across the Mediterranean, as Rhapsody of the Seas returns to Venice, Italy for the summer to offer shorter itineraries, alternating between Greece & Croatia and the Greek Isles. Copenhagen will welcome Jewel of the Seas for the season, as the ship sails a mix of 7-night itineraries through the Norwegian Fjords and Scandinavia & Russia. Brilliance of the Seas will return to Amsterdam for a third summer, sailing 12-night Baltic itineraries and a special 12-night sailing around the British Isles. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, adventurers can board Brilliance for a 15-night arctic crossing as the ship repositions from Amsterdam to Boston, Mass. European itineraries will be available to book the week of Dec. 17, 2018. All itineraries will be open to book by Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members one day prior to the general opening date.

 

 

Ege Port Kuşadası to host the next MedCruise General Assembly

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 12 December 2018 12 December 2018

Ege Port Kuşadası, the gateway to the world famous ancient city Ephesus and a Global Ports Holding port, will be hosting the 54th MedCruise General Assembly. During the General Assembly, MedCruise members’ representatives together with other esteemed guests such as cruise lines’ executives and international press representatives will discuss the latest developments of the cruise sector and the state of the industry as well as the implications and prospects of cruising in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.

Home of the ancient Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, Kuşadası is a historical city. With a dynamic cruise port and its blue flagged beaches, Kuşadası is the most preferred tourism destination. Offering a wonderful contrast between the excitement of a lively holiday destination and the serenity of ancient ruins. With the typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters, the region enjoys a long tourism season, and without doubt, Kuşadası is one of Turkey’s most beautiful holiday destinations.

As a member of MedCruise, the Association of cruise ports in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas, now totalling 70 port members representing more than 120 ports around the Mediterranean region and 33 associate members, Ege Port Kuşadası will be hosting the 54th General Assembly of MedCruise, which is a major event of the cruise business.

The first acquisition of Global Ports Holding, Ege Port Kuşadası is among the most visited cities in the Mediterranean. With the completely renovated Scala Nuova Village, located directly across the terminal, the port offers exotic, colourful shops with chic cafes, bars and restaurants tailored for the cruise passengers.

Airam Diaz Pastor, the President of MedCruise: “We are very proud to announce that our General Assembly will take place on the Eastern Med, a region with a splendid boost on the following seasons. Our prestigious 54th General Assembly will be welcomed by the Ege Port Kuşadası, a historical region and a great cruise destination. This major cruise event will have a positive impact not only on the traffic of this area but also on the nearby regions, which is one of the main goals of our Association”.

Aziz Güngör, the General Manager of Ege Port Kuşadası: “We are very happy to host the MedCruise General Assembly here in Kuşadası, hosting the cruise industry leaders, the member port managers, as well as the press. As the traffic to East Med is getting stronger once again, Kuşadası will be welcoming the passengers back with delight.”

Emre Savin; Chief Executive Officer of Global Ports Holding Plc added that “As the world’s largest cruise port operator, Global Ports Holding Plc is delighted to support this event hosted by one of our ports, Ege Port Kuşadası. Kuşadası, also referred to as “Ephesus” is one of the top cruise destinations in the East Mediterranean. We hope you enjoy this year’s event and appreciate the historical beauty of this wonderful destination.”

MSC Armonia begins her first cruise from PortMiami to Cuba

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 11 December 2018 11 December 2018

On December 10, MSC Cruises welcomed MSC Armonia to Miami, FL, in preparation for her first ever sailing from the United States to Cuba. Starting yesterday, MSC Armonia began sailing 7-night Caribbean itineraries year-round departing from Miami and calling at Montego Bay, Jamaica; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico before arriving in Havana, the Cuban capital, on Saturday and staying overnight to Sunday. And, with only one day at sea in this itinerary, cruisers are given more time to explore these sun-soaked ports of call.

“We are thrilled to be enhancing the opportunities for guests sailing from North America to explore the Caribbean in new ways, with MSC Armonia joining the revolutionary MSC Seaside and the elegant MSC Divina at PortMiami,” said Roberto Fusaro, President of MSC Cruises USA. “With this brand new itinerary, our guests will not only be able to explore a new city, but also have plenty of time to experience the local culture, taste the local foods and return home with an enriching experience.”

With two full days in bustling Havana, guests will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in the Cuban culture both during the day and in the evening through a variety of distinctive tours. Shore excursions will explore local highlights from music, art and architecture to classic cigar rolling, rum distilling and much more.

NCLH appoints Harry Sommer to new position of President, International

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 11 December 2018 11 December 2018

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH), the worl’d third largest cruise shipping group, said it had appointed of Harry Sommer to the newly created position of President, International.

NCLH, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, said the appointment reflected expanding and diversifying the group’s global sourcing and distribution. “Sommer is responsible for sales, marketing, public relations and office operations for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in all markets outside the United States and Canada.  He will continue to report to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Del Rio,” NCLH said in a statement.

“As our company continues to grow, we look towards emerging and international markets to further expand our global footprint across our portfolio of award-winning brands,” said Del Rio.  “With Harry at the helm, I am confident we will continue to profitably diversify our business globally and offer guests best-in-class vacation experiences around the world.”