Celestyal Discovery returns to service after major refurbishment

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 24 March 2025 24 March 2025

Celestyal Discovery has returned to service after a major refurbishment carried out in Athens during the winter.

The 1,360-passenger ship departed from Athens on March 21 on its inaugural voyage of the 2025 season to Greece and the Mediterranean on a three-night "Iconic Greek Islands" cruise. The voyage continued with a stop in Santorini on March 23, marking the first cruise ship visit since the lifting of temporary restrictions imposed by local Greek authorities.

The renovation has incorporated 47 new cabins: 32 suites have expanded the ship's premium capacity by 52%, reflecting the growing demand for this type of accommodation, while 15 Cosmos interior cabins have also been added. This total cabin increase has raised the ship's overall capacity by 7.4%.

The 32 suites include two new categories: 30 Junior Dream Suites, measuring 25 m², with balconies up to 5.6 m², and two Grand Horizon Suites, located above the bridge, measuring 42 m² and featuring separate living areas and spacious 15.5 m² balconies.

Other enhancements include the addition of the Smoked Olive restaurant, in line with its sister ship Celestyal Journey, available as a dedicated dining space at no additional cost to all suite guests. Additional à la carte dining options, such as roast lamb shank and rum baba dessert, will also be available for a small additional charge. Later in the season, a pop-up evening restaurant called Grill Seekers will also be available, with a private, reservable dining area, featuring high-end regional cuisine inspired by the ship's itinerary destinations.

Celestyal has made a significant investment in the ship since joining the fleet in November 2023. Initially, the company updated all public spaces onboard, refurbished cabins, and added a new café, Café Nation, as well as complimentary dining options such as the Pizza Oven and the poolside Greek Deli. The refurbishment work was led by specialist design agency AMK.

Lee Haslett, Celestyal's Chief Commercial Officer, commented: "This latest refurbishment reinforces our commitment to constantly evolving our guests' experience and delivering unparalleled value. Our impressive enhancements, including two new suite categories, provide guests with even more comfort and choice, in line with the growing demand for more premium and spacious cabins.

"We are delighted to have unveiled Celestyal Discovery's enhancements last week and to be the first cruise line to return to Santorini, a favorite destination among our guests, kicking off the new season in the Greek Islands and the Mediterranean."

Celestyal Discovery will offer three- and four-night 'Iconic Greek Islands' cruises from Athens, from March to November, with calls in Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, and Santorini. Prices start from €339 per person for a Cosmos interior cabin, €1,009 per person for a new Junior Dream Suite, and €1,009 per person for a Deluxe Suite. €1,249 per person for a new Grand Horizon Suite.* All meals, soft drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are included in the rates.

TUI Cruises hosts more than 150 international sales partners aboard new Mein Schiff Relax

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 20 March 2025 20 March 2025

Between March 6 and 9, more than 150 international travel agents – more than ever before in the history of Mein Schiff – had the opportunity to experience for themselves what feel-good ambassador Robbie Williams means when he says in the commercial “Relaxing rocks with the new Mein Schiff Relax. .... You should check it out”. And that is exactly what the international travel sellers did on the “Together at Sea” fam trip: they put the first vessel of the new InTUItion ship class through its paces during the day and rocked the Mein Schiff Relax with guest stars such as Alex Christensen, DJ Mokaby and Mitchy and André Katawaz in the evening.

TUI Cruises invited sales partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Scandinavia, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and South Tyrol on board for an exciting training and entertainment program. The Mein Schiff sales team had put together an attractive programme. Highlights included onboard tours and numerous presentations on various topics, as well as an interactive ship rally using one's own smartphone. During the “Relaxing Rocks Rally”, the sales partners had the opportunity to explore all areas of the new feel-good ship at their own pace and, with a little luck, win a free cabin for two people.

The response from travel agents to the “Together at Sea” trip and the Mein Schiff Relax has been consistently positive. “The bilingual project is bearing fruit and making the Mein Schiff fleet more and more accessible to non-German-speaking guests. The new Mein Schiff Relax is a very good example of this,” says Karin Niehoff, Product Manager Cruises at TUI Nederland. Ivar Mensink, Senior International Sales Manager for the Mein Schiff brand, also draws a positive conclusion: “It was very nice to see the interest and fun with which the partners explored the Mein Schiff Relax, the first ship of the InTUItion class. The atmosphere on board was great and the agents filled the motto ‘Relaxing rocks’ with life and interpreted it in their very own way.” Clas Eckholt, Vice President Commercial at TUI Cruises, adds: “The commissioning of our new feel-good ship Mein Schiff Relax is an important milestone – for us and for our sales partners, who are at the heart of our growth strategy. It is even more gratifying that our international sales partners, for whom Mein Schiff Relax offers completely new sales opportunities, have embraced the trip so well and that we were able to welcome over 150 non-German-speaking partners for the first time. Exploring and discovering on board Mein Schiff Relax themselves provides the best foundation for successful discussions and for selling our new flagship even more convincingly.”

Queen Elizabeth completes extensive transformation in Singapore

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 18 March 2025 18 March 2025

Cunard has unveiled a new-look Queen Elizabeth ahead of her debut season sailing from Miami and its inaugural Alaska voyages from Seattle. The 2,000-guest ship completed a transformative three-week makeover at Seatrium’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore on Friday, March 14.

Queen Elizabeth’s debut Alaska season from Seattle begins on June 12, while her inaugural Caribbean voyage from Miami departs on October 16 – a 12-night roundtrip sailing offering guests the chance to visit Bridgetown’s UNESCO-listed Garrison and bustling markets of Castries, St Lucia.

Queen Elizabeth’s signature spaces, such as the Commodore Club, Queens Room, Garden Lounge, and The Pavilion, have each been thoughtfully revitalized, connecting guests to the ocean while providing the perfect space to relax or enjoy al fresco dining.

Outdoor decks have also been revamped to give guests better opportunities to admire majestic Alaskan glaciers or gorgeous Caribbean vistas, with more sunshades to the aft deck to accommodate warmer weather, for example.

The story behind the Queens Room redesign, which exudes the elegance and luxury reminiscent of the golden age of ocean travel, takes inspiration from the Royal Palace’s heritage of planting Mulberry trees since King James I, with its new carpet pattern replicating a lush garden shrubbery.

The Grills experience – a hallmark of Cunard’s luxury offering – has also been elevated to new heights. Guests staying in the exclusive Grills suites will enjoy enhanced interiors and exteriors, featuring sumptuous furnishings, sophisticated detailing, and thoughtful design to deliver the ultimate in comfort and style. The Grills terrace also features new furniture for guests to enjoy sunset cocktails.

Another standout feature of the refurbishment is the introduction of The Pavilion Wellness Café, which debuted in 2024 on Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne. This wellness-focused venue will serve breakfast, lunch, and daytime dining with a menu celebrating plant-based cuisine alongside sustainably sourced meat, fish, and dairy.

Guests can also enjoy the Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea program, first seen on Queen Anne. This industry-first partnership with Harper’s Bazaar offers three-day wellness packages tailored to relaxation, energy restoration, or recovery, providing a rejuvenating journey at sea.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “As Queen Elizabeth begins this exciting new chapter, we are delighted to offer guests an even more refined experience on board, with beautifully updated spaces that combine classic Cunard style with modern comfort. With a full season based in Miami for the first time, more guests from the US and around the world can now experience the Caribbean with Cunard’s unique sense of luxury. The region remains a favorite for travelers on both sides of the Atlantic, and we can’t wait to welcome guests on board.”

For the first time in Cunard’s history, one of their iconic fleet will spend the full season in Miami and Queen Elizabeth will offer a dedicated program of roundtrip Caribbean voyages with itineraries ranging from nine to 28 nights. Guests will enjoy idyllic escapes to iconic destinations including Montego Bay in Jamaica, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and St John’s in Antigua.

Meyer Turku shipyard appoints Casimir Lindholm new CEO

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 06 March 2025 06 March 2025

Casimir Lindholm has been appointed CEO of Meyer Turku Oy and will start his duties in the beginning of May 2025. Casimir Lindholm is currently President and CEO of Cargotec Oyj. He holds an M.Sc. (Econ) and an MBA degree. He has a long professional career as CEO in different companies such as Eltel and Lemminkäinen.

Casimir Lindholm will succeed Tim Meyer, who will join the Meyer Turku Oy Board of Directors in position of vice chair. This step is a part of a planned generational change, after Bernard Meyer handing over the chair position to Jaakko Eskola earlier this spring.

“In Casimir, we have found an exceptional leader with years of experience from various industries such as construction. I already have experience from successfully working together with him in a company majority owned by a family," comments Jaakko Eskola, Executive Chair of the Board for Meyer Turku Oy.

“I am honored to take on this role at Meyer Turku Oy. I look forward to working with the talented shipyard team to drive future success for the shipyard and the whole Finnish shipbuilding ecosystem," says Casimir Lindholm.

The appointment of an external CEO marks an important step in the Meyer family’s role in the company’s governance structure. The increasing complexity of the business and products demands that they delegate their operational responsibilities to be able to dedicate more time to the strategy of the family companies.

Tim Meyer: "As Meyer Turku has made its way out of the global crises and is now standing on a solid financial foundation, we are happy to announce the next step in the development of our family company. In my role as vice chair, I will have more time to concentrate on the strategic development of the shipyard and our other family companies. Together with Jaakko Eskola, my main task will be to ensure Meyer Turku has a long-term competitive strategy with a continued focus on sustainability. Meyer Turku is very important to us, as the company is 100% owned by the family.

During the decade that my brother Jan and I work in Finland, we have grown to highly appreciate the culture and the people in this country of an impressive shipbuilding tradition. I am happy that in Casimir we have found a proven professional leader, who will develop Meyer Turku further. I wish him all the best for his start.”

Jaakko Eskola concludes: “I want to take this opportunity to thank Tim. He took over the responsibility of the shipyard in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis and now, after a series of remarkable global challenges, leaves his role as CEO at a shipyard on an improved financial foundation and promising future outlooks.”

In the last 10 years, since the engagement of the Meyer family, Meyer Turku Oy has been operatively led first by Jan Meyer (2014-2020), then by Tim Meyer (2020-2025). The company turned profitable after the acquisition of STX, and from 2014 to 2025, the shipyard yearly turnover has quadrupled from roughly €500 million to €2 billion.

During the Meyer ownership, the shipyard has been able to deliver at least one large cruise ship each year. So far, the Meyer family has invested over €300 million in developing Meyer Turku. One of the largest milestones in the last 10 years was the delivery of the world’s most complex and efficient cruise ship Icon of the Seas in 2023.