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Norwegian Encore to sail seasonally from PortMiami to the Eastern Caribbean

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 March 2018 28 March 2018

Norwegian Encore, the latest addition to Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, is now on sale for voyages beginning in fall of 2019. Guests can now book their cruise vacation on Norwegian’s fourth Breakaway-Plus class ship, the final ship in the most successful class of the company’s history. For her inaugural 2019 season, Norwegian Encore will cruise out of Miami every Sunday, and sail 7-night voyages to the Eastern Caribbean, beginning with her first journey on November 17, 2019 through April 12, 2020.

Norwegian Encore’s Eastern Caribbean cruises will feature some of the region’s most popular destinations offering a perfect mix of leisure activities, culture immersion and adventurous experiences. On this 7-night voyage, guests will first visit San Juan, Puerto Rico where they can explore everything the city has to offer. Guests can stroll through the colorful plazas and cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, tour the island’s popular Bacardi Rum distillery, and visit historic sites including the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, immersing themselves in the history of the citadel. Norwegian Encore will then make her next call into St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, notably known for its picturesque beaches, amazing snorkeling locations and bountiful shopping options. Finally, guests will have the chance to revel in the exotic, beautiful isle of Tortola, British Virgin Islands and relax on its sprawling white sandy beaches while surrounded by its lush tropical scenery.

“Our decision to have the inaugural season of Norwegian Encore cruise the Caribbean reinforces our long-standing relationship with this region and strengthens our support to some of the most beautiful islands in the world,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are excited to reveal the ship’s new features and amenities over the next few months, and look forward to continuing to offer our guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ultimate cruise vacation aboard our newest ship.”

In January, Norwegian Encore marked her first construction milestone with an official steel-cutting ceremony that took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Slated to be approximately 167,800 gross tons and accommodating up to 4,000 guests, Norwegian Encore will make her much-anticipated debut in Miami in November 2019 to coincide with the scheduled completion of the new terminal at PortMiami, which will be dedicated to Norwegian Cruise Line. The design that was recently revealed at the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference in March is a creation of the architects at Bermello Ajamil and Partners, and will feature modern elements including state-of-the-art lighting, inviting indoor and outdoor waiting areas, new technology for a more efficient checking-in process and other innovative features to enhance the overall guest experience.

Reservations now open for new Carnival Panorama's year-round departures from Long Beach

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 March 2018 26 March 2018

Carnival Cruise Line has began accepting reservations for the 133,500 gross ton Carnival Panorama, which kicks off its year-round 7-night Mexican Riviera schedule from Long Beach, Calif., Dec. 14, 2019, becoming the first new Carnival ship homeported on the West Coast in 20 years.

Prior to the launch of 7-night service, Carnival Panorama will offer a special one-time 3-night cruise to Ensenada from Long Beach Dec. 11-14, 2019.

Carnival Panorama will offer a three-port, 7-night itinerary from Long Beach, departing every Saturday to stunning destinations along the Mexican Riviera, including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. During these cruises, guests can relax on world-class beaches, visit centuries-old historical sites, and enjoy unforgettable dining and shopping opportunities and exciting experiences ashore.

“Carnival Panorama promises to be a spectacular addition to our fleet and we’re delighted to provide our guests with an opportunity to be among the first to sail on our first new ship on the West Coast in two decades,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Voyages will depart from the newly refurbished Long Beach Cruise Terminal, housed in a massive 146,000-square-foot geodesic dome that once housed Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose airplane. The expanded facility offers a streamlined embarkation and debarkation process along with stunning design elements that pay homage to the Golden State, including a mural of the Sierra Nevada mountains and replicas of the Spruce Goose.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, Carnival Panorama will offer groundbreaking attractions like a bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide, a massive WaterWorks aqua park, and the SportSquare open-air recreation area, along with a vibrant Havana section with tropics-inspired staterooms and its own Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbor featuring extra-roomy accommodations and the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa. Like its name implies, Carnival Panorama will also offer both indoor and al fresco food and beverage concepts, including the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Library Bar, and Bonsai Sushi.

MSC Bellissima to be named at Southampton in early March 2019

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 March 2018 22 March 2018

MSC Cruises will host 2,500 agents on board MSC Bellissima when it is named in the UK next spring, Travel Weekly reports.

The ship will dock in Southampton for three days on 1 to 3 March, with the naming ceremony taking place on 2 March.

MSC Cruises last christened a ship in the UK with the launch of MSC Poesia in Dover in 2008.

With capacity for 4,500 passengers and with a gross tonnage of 171,600, MSC Bellissima will be the largest ship to be named in the UK.

Seabourn's fifth ultra-luxury ship nearing its completion

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 March 2018 21 March 2018

Seabourn’s newest ultra-luxury vessel, Seabourn Ovation, achieved another important maritime milestone with the completion of its final round of sea trials in the Mediterranean off the coast of Italy.

Seabourn Ovation departed the Fincantieri shipyard on March 14 for four days at sea, where a team of officers and engineers tested the ship’s technical and mechanical systems. Seabourn Ovation returned to the shipyard in Genoa on March 18, and staff and workers are putting the final touches on the ship. The delivery ceremony of the ship is on schedule to take place on April 27, 2018.

“We’re now weeks away from delivery, and I’m very pleased with the progress and preparedness of the ship now that sea trials are complete,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “Our first revenue guests will board on May 5, and I know they will be excited to see this newest addition to the Seabourn fleet.”

Seabourn Ovation will begin her maiden season with an 11-night inaugural voyage departing May 5, 2018, from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. The ship’s naming ceremony will take place on Friday, May 11, in the beautiful baroque harbour of Valletta, Malta. One of the world’s highly-acclaimed actresses and singers, Elaine Paige, will serve as godmother and will name the ship during a spectacular ceremony that will light up the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage site and the 2018 European Capital of Culture.

The ship will spend the majority of its maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a series of 7-night Baltic and Scandinavian sailings between Copenhagen and Stockholm, which will include the line’s signature three-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia. Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-night voyages, visiting the majestic Norwegian fjords and British Isles.

Seabourn Ovation is the fifth ultra-luxury ship in the Seabourn fleet. With stunning contemporary interiors by design icon Adam D. Tihany, culinary expertise by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller, specially commissioned entertainment by Sir Tim Rice and an exciting program of onboard speakers, Ovation will sail on a variety of voyages in and around Europe between May and November 2018, hailing at ports throughout Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Seabourn Ovation will expand and build on the line’s award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionized ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. A sister ship to Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation will feature 300 suites and maintain the line’s high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly personalized service.

Seabourn will continue to release updates about Seabourn Ovation via the dedicated microsite: http://ovation.seabourn.com. Alive with imagery, details and news of the ship’s continuing progress, including “sunsets until launch,” the microsite offers an inside look at the excitement of the upcoming launch, with additional details, news and images revealed on an ongoing basis.

Marella Explorer 2 to become line’s first adult only ship

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 March 2018 21 March 2018

Marella Explorer 2, which will be introduced by TUI AG’s UK focused Marella Cruises unit in 2019, will be the first ship in the company’s fleet to be exclusively for adults, offering customers more choice and flexibility. “The popularity of adult-only sailings from Dubrovnik and the Asia itineraries for winter 2018 prompted the decision to offer an adults-only ship,” the company said in a statement.

The 72,458 gross ton ship is currntlt operating in China as Golden Era and it was built in 1995 as Century of Celebrity Cruises.

Marella Explorer 2 will be tailored to meet the needs of couples, friends and groups by doubling the size of The Veranda featured on Marella Explorer. The Veranda is the premium sunbathing spot onboard and will feature brand new facilities. The 1,814 capacity ship will offer 907 cabins, of which nearly 40 per cent have balconies.

From May 2019 Marella Explorer 2 will sail from a new homeport Naples, Italy. The exclusive adults-only ship will sail to some of the finest European cities including Venice, Rome and Dubrovnik.

Boasting an array of dining and bar options similar to its sister ship Marella Explorer launching in May this year, Marella Explorer 2 will offer highlights including Kora La, Snack Shack and Surf and Turf. The new ship will also feature recognised bars including Aperitif and Squid and Anchor. As with Marella Explorer, the new ship will offer a stand out entertainment programme onboard courtesy of entertainment provider ‘ted’.

And that’s not all, Marella Explorer 2 will also feature a luxurious Champneys Spa which will launch first on Marella Explorer this year, offering a variety of indulging treatments.

New cabin types on Marella Explorer 2 include the Royal Suite which measures 102m2 featuring a separate bedroom, dressing room, dining area and whirlpool bath. The new ship also features deluxe balcony cabins boasting some of the best sea views.